Chapter 4, Problem 56A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The technique used to visualize individual atoms needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

There are many techniques used to study micro elements. An electron transmission microscope is one that can magnify anything over 500, 000 times. It uses beam of electron that is transmitted through the object and this magnification is strong enough to visualize nanoparticles.

Answer to Problem 56A

Scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is a technique that can be used to visualize individual atoms.

Explanation of Solution

Scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is an instrument used to image the atomic structures. STM works by moving a probe tip over a surface under imaging. Probe tip is a sharp metal wire tip with one or two atoms at its point. It brings the tip very close to the surface and apply an electrical voltage to the tip of the sample. This techniques can image the object at an extremely small scale. Example: resolution of individual atoms.

Conclusion

Scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is used to visualize individual atoms as it more than thousand times bigger than an atom.