The Quantum Model


The correct mathematical work was later done by Erwin Schrödinger, an Austrian scientist. His math was based upon the work of Planck, Einstein, and Werner Heisenberg. Heisenberg's key idea during the 1920's was the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Heisenberg stated that the position and the momentum of a subatomic particle cannot be known with absolute certainty. His equation shows that the uncertainty of the position times the uncertainty of the momentum must be greater than a constant. Because of this, a margin of probability and randomness is introduced into the whole equation. This did not go over well with any of the scientists, especially Einstein. Schrödinger himself said:
"I don't like it, and I'm sorry I ever had anything to do with it"
Although he disliked it, Schrödinger admitted that Heisenberg was right, and incorporated the Uncertainty Principal into his model. This made it impossible to know exactly where the electrons are in their orbits, which produces the effect that electrons randomly 'pop' around their orbital. This provides the necessary movement to prevent the electrons from falling into the nucleus. Although the movement of the electrons is random, it can be described using probability and statistics. Each energy level has a different shape (called shells), which is formed by the highest probability where the electron will be. When two atoms join to form a molecule, their outer energy shells overlap and merge together. This is the current atomic model, and it has come a long way from the simple theories of Greek philosophers.

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