Do atoms have a size? Is there such thing as a well-defined \"diameter\" of, say

Question

Do atoms have a size? Is there such thing as a well-defined "diameter" of, say, a helium atom? Consider a classical model of helium in which two atoms interact solely through the Lennard-Jones potential. Explain how you might find an approximate, but perhaps not rigorous, definition of atomic diameter using this model. Do atoms have a size? Is there such thing as a well-defined "diameter" of, say, a helium atom? Consider a classical model of helium in which two atoms interact solely through the Lennard-Jones potential. Explain how you might find an approximate, but perhaps not rigorous, definition of atomic diameter using this model.

Explanation / Answer

Atoms do not a definite size, there is no well-defined diameter of an atom. The electron cloud density just becomes smaller as you move away from the positively charged nucleus.

If you consider a classical model of the helium atom in which two atoms interact solely through the Lennard-Jones potential, the atomic radius can be assumed to the distance at which the potential has the lowest value.

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