atomic structure

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the structure of an atom, theoretically consisting of a positively charged nucleus surrounded and neutralized by negatively charged electrons revolving in orbits at varying distances from the nucleus, the constitution of the nucleus and the arrangement of the electrons differing with various chemical elements.

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atomic structure British  

noun

1. the concept of an atom as a central positively charged nucleus consisting of protons and neutrons surrounded by a number of electrons. The number of electrons is equal to the number of protons: the whole entity is thus electrically neutral

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Etymology

Origin of atomic structure

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

To investigate how these materials respond to light, graduate student Mansha Dubey directed laser light onto perovskite crystals and monitored how their atomic structure shifted using X-ray measurements.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

Each node is a very small quantum computer, made out of a sliver of diamond that has a defect in its atomic structure called a silicon-vacancy center.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2024

In the newly published work, they pushed hBN to even more intense vibrations, but rather than damaging the underlying atomic structure, the lasers broke the crystal lattice cleanly apart.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2024

And in the middle of this strange atomic structure was press from everywhere: Japanese TV, Swedish newspapers, American magazines, more.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2024

James Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron in early 1932 posed questions about atomic structure and behavior that could not be fully processed without an understanding of chemistry in addition to physics.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik