The Hydrogen Atom

A hydrogen atom contains a single positively charged proton and a single negatively charged electron bound to the nucleus by the Coulomb force.

Atomic hydrogen constitutes about 75% of the baryonic mass of the universe.

In ordinary English use, 'atomic hydrogen' refers to isolated hydrogen atoms, while 'hydrogen atom' can refer to hydrogen atoms in compounds or in diatomic hydrogen gas.

<p>Atomic spectroscopy shows that there is a discrete infinite set of states in which a hydrogen atom can exist, contrary to the predictions of classical physics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Isolated hydrogen atoms (called 'atomic hydrogen') are extremely rare in everyday life on Earth because a hydrogen atom tends to combine with other atoms in compounds or with another hydrogen atom to form ordinary (diatomic) hydrogen gas, H2.</p> Signup and view all the answers