• Question: Does atoms keep us alive?

    Asked by natrualme to Jemma, John, Lisa, Sam on 31 May 2012.
    • Photo: Lisa Fitzgerald

      Lisa Fitzgerald answered on 31 May 2012:

      Hi @naturalme,

      I guess the simple answer is yes as atoms are the building blocks of all molecules and therefore all substances. We are a collection of atoms bonded together in specific ways so that we can exist as we do. We and everything else on the earth are made up of atoms so yes in a manner of speaking they keep us alive.

      Thanks

      Lisa

    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 31 May 2012:

      Hi @naturalme, how are you?

      In a sense, yes! We are made of atoms, as is everything in our universe without which there would be nothing (deep isn’t it!) The thing I find fascinating about atoms is that they are mostly empty space, around 99.9999999999999% in fact. So we are all mostly empty, weird huh?! If the nucleus were the size of a baseball, the electrons would be about 3 miles away from it. The space in between would be completely empty. That’s how empty atoms, and therefore we are.

      Hope that answers your question.
      Jemma

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