The finding that electrons in an atom occupy a volume much greater than the volume of the nucleus is best explained by
A)electromagnetic forces.
B)angular momentum conservation.
C)relative sizes of electrons and nuclei.
D)the wave nature of the electron.
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The wave nature of the electron best explains the fact that electrons in an atom occupy a much larger volume than the nucleus. According to the wave theory of electrons, electrons are not point particles but are best described as wave packets. These wave packets can spread out over a large region of space, resulting in a relatively large volume of space being occupied by the electron.

The Finding That Electrons in an Atom Occupy a Volume