NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 3
Atoms And Molecules
NCERT Books for Session 2022-2023
CBSE Board and UP Board
Intext Questions
Page No-35
Questions No-2
Why is it not possible to see an atom with naked eyes?
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The size of an atom is so small that it is not possible to see it with naked eyes. Also, atom of an
element does not exist independently.
1. Atom’s Tiny Size: Atoms are exceedingly small, measured in picometers (10^-12 meters), far smaller than the wavelengths of visible light.
2. Human Eye Limitation: The human eye’s resolution is restricted by the wavelengths of visible light, which range from about 400 to 700 nanometers, larger than an atom’s size.
3. Wavelength vs. Atom Size: Visible light’s wavelength is much larger than an atom’s diameter (typically 0.1 nanometers for hydrogen), preventing direct observation by the human eye.
4. Interaction with Light: Atoms neither emit nor reflect visible light in a way perceivable by the human eye due to the mismatch in their sizes and light wavelengths.
5. Tools for Observation: Specialized instruments like electron microscopes, utilizing beams with much smaller wavelengths than visible light, allow the visualization of atomic structures.
6. Conclusion: The sheer size difference between atoms and visible light wavelengths, coupled with the limitations of human eye resolution, renders atoms invisible to the naked eye. Specialized scientific instruments are required for their observation due to their minuscule size.