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Hydrogen atom: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 106 pm.

twice the Bohr radius; theoretical reference

pm means picometer: a unit used to measure atoms and their bonds. Imagine 1 millimeter split into one billion equal pieces: one piece measures 1 pm.

The simplest atom: one proton and one electron.

Explore at this scale
Hydrogen atom, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

The simplest atom: one proton and one electron. This reference corresponds to two Bohr radii. Orbital depictions are conventions; in quantum mechanics, the electron is described by a probability distribution.

Compare the stated dimensions

The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.

Compare with Carbon atom in the explorer →

Source and limitations

Catalogue order of magnitude; a source is provided, but this measurement has not been individually audited.

Hydrogen: an evocation of the spherical electron probability cloud and a central proton. Densities, colours and proportions are interpreted; the dimension reference is two Bohr radii, without a rigid atomic boundary.