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by Tondoteottotote on March 15th, 2005

Tondoteottotote

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Why are atoms spherical in shape? Why aren't they cube, pyramid, or any other shape?

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Answers. 9 helpful answers below.

  • by Quirkie on May 18th, 2005

    Quirkie

    The shape of atoms is determined by the shape of the electron orbitals (electron clouds).
    These in turn are determined by the electromagnetic field which is mediated by photons. Photons travel equally well in all directions and thus the field is spherically symmetrical about the nucleus of the atom.

    Having said that, you might expect me to say that since the field is spherically symmetrical, so are the electron orbitals and therefore so is the atom. In fact this isn't necessarily the case.

    The solution to the time-independent Schroedinger equation in a spherically symmetric field leads to a differential equation whose solutions are the spherical harmonics, "Ylm".

    While the first spherical harmonic, Y00, is spherical, the second, Y10, is dumb-bell shaped. (Y21 looks like a four leaf clover and they get steadily more complex)
    This means that atoms with certain combinations of electron orbitals are not spherical. Iron is an example, and magnets are possible because of it.

    (Reference: text book"Quantum Mechanics" by Alastair I.M. Rae p43-55)

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  • by Jillifish on March 20th, 2005

    Jillifish

    The truth is that we are not really sure about the shape of atoms. It is true that they are represented by spheres in models and drawings, but until we build microscopes that can give us that much definition, this is anyone's best guess.

    The atom's core (the nucleus) is made up of protons and neutrons, and electrons orbit this nucleus at different levels and in different patterns, depending on their energy and spin. It is easiest to think of this as a spherical cloud where the electrons are zooming around. The electrons want to stay close to the nucleus, but they also need to keep moving. Spheres are the most efficient ratio of surface area to volume, so it is more likely for the electrons to be within this sphere, than say a shape that has corners (like a cube or pyramid) because the corners would be much further away from the core, where the electrons are not likely to go.

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  • by Dezimae is FINALLY 21 on March 13th, 2009

    Dezimae is FINALLY 21

    its because of gravity. that is why the earth is round.

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  • by Skipps on April 2nd, 2005

    Skipps

    Objects in a spherical shape, like planets, are spherical becasue a sphere is the easiest geological shape to maintain. It requires equal amounts of force from the center of the object to maintain its shape.

    If the shape were cubed, the force distribution would be all screwy to maintain that shape. So it's only natural for things, possibly atoms too, to take that shape.

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  • by Anonymous on March 13th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Not really sure, but not much of nature seems to have sharp angles.

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  • by FingerBoX on August 8th, 2008

    FingerBoX

    gravity pulls things into spheres. imagine if Earth was a pyramid shape!

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  • by actjack on January 4th, 2009

    actjack

    Black energy known as threads; the space between all

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  • by Anonymous on March 13th, 2009

    Anonymous

    As far as fundamental physics says, there is no definite shape for an atom, though it close to sphere if it is hydrogen where as the atomic no increases it goest eliptisoid. If an atom exsist with 1000 proton and 1000 electorn it never possible to have single shape

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  • by yerbamate on August 8th, 2008

    yerbamate

    When part of a crystal the atom takes the shape of one of the 26 an all-space-filler-polyhedrons.

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