In: Chemistry
Electrons are constantly moving, which should require energy right? What happens to the atoms or the electrons when the energy runs out?
The motion of any Electron around the Nucleus is governed by the interaction of two forces:
The two mutually opposing forces maintain the electron in the specific orbit around the Nucleus.
If the kinetic energy of the electron drop down the Centrepetal force will overcome and as a consequence the Electron will collapse with the Nucleus and the existence of the atom will be hampered. It may so happen that only one electron is accomodated in the Nucleus and the atomic number drops down as a Proton is converted to Neutron.
In reality such a phenomenon is called K-electron Capture where an unstable nucleus accepts an electron from the K or L orbital to get itself stabilized.