#atomic-structure

#atomic-structure

Gold sure does glitter, holding a shine far longer than most metals. And now two researchers have explained why. In a paper published today in Physical Review Letters, Santu Biswas and Matthew Montemore of Tulane University reveal the reason gold is harder to oxidize than similar metals. They key, they say, is the same chemical trickery that gives it a beautiful zigzag structure when viewed under a scanning tunneling microscope.

The strong nuclear force is required to hold the core of every species of atom together, preventing the repulsive force between protons from destroying the nucleus instantly.