How do Electrons Move in Molecules?

Most recent answer: 08/02/2015

Q:
I have a big problem.i asked my question with two people who got a phd for chemistry .and a person who got a special for chemistry but I did not got a proper answer.MY QUESTION IS: it is said that the electrons move arround it's atom ,but if the electrons are moved arround it's atom as a particle or as a wave ,Take the carbon as an example.the carbon is also a elememt so the electrons of carbon should move around the carbon atom.if the electrons are moving around the carbon atom so there should be a physical change in a carbon rod because carbon rods are mada up of pure carbon atoms and large number of electrons are there in the carbon rod .so at least we should observe an physical change in the surface of the carbon rod with an electron microscope...what is the reason that we did not observe any physical change I any element due to this reason ?(exept the physical changes that occurs due to reaction of that element with other elements)
- kanishka nuwan (age 17)
sri lanka,kandy,nawalapitiya
A:

We've addressed this subtle question many times before. The electron is not some little dot buzzing around from place to place. As we currently understand it, the electron (like any other small-scale entity) is a wave, spread out in space. In the typical states found in atoms or molecules at low temperatures, those states don't physically change in time. The cloud just stays where it is. 

For further discussion, see:

Mike W.


(published on 08/02/2015)