''Inside the Atom'' is a popular science book by American author Isaac Asimov. The first edition of the book was published in 1956 by

Abelard-Schuman Thomas Y. Crowell Co. was a publishing company founded by Thomas Y. Crowell. The company began as a bookbindery founded by Benjamin Bradley in 1834. Crowell operated the business after Bradley's death in 1862 and eventually purchased the compan ...

. Revised editions were brought out in subsequent years.

Overview

The book describes the internal structure of the

atom Every atom is composed of a nucleus and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus. The nucleus is made of one or more protons and a number of neutrons. Only the most common variety of hydrogen has no neutrons. Every solid, liquid, gas, ...

. The sequence of concepts described in the book follows the sequence that those facts were discovered in. It describes the various sub-atomic structures within the atom, and the functions they fill in the whole structure. Later chapters describe

chemical element A chemical element is a species of atoms that have a given number of protons in their nuclei, including the pure substance consisting only of that species. Unlike chemical compounds, chemical elements cannot be broken down into simpler sub ...

s and

isotopes Isotopes are two or more types of atoms that have the same atomic number (number of protons in their nuclei) and position in the periodic table (and hence belong to the same chemical element), and that differ in nucleon numbers (mass numbers) ...

, the stability and instability of

atomic nuclei The atomic nucleus is the small, dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom, discovered in 1911 by Ernest Rutherford based on the 1909 Geiger–Marsden gold foil experiment. After the discovery of the neutron ...

, and finally

atomic energy Atomic energy or energy of atoms is energy carried by atoms. The term originated in 1903 when Ernest Rutherford began to speak of the possibility of atomic energy. Isaac Asimov, ''Atom: Journey Across the Sub-Atomic Cosmos'', New York:1992 Plume, ...

, the uses it has, and the threat that it poses. A review in the educational journal ''The Clearing House'' said that the book was "lucid", and that its "analytical style exemplifies the art of good teaching." The book is aimed at educated lay-readers, and high-school science students. ''Inside the Atom'' ends on a cautionary note, stating "If only we can learn to use the knowledge we already have..." In 1956, the book was used in a pilot program to advance science education sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Approximately two hundred titles were circulated amongst high schools that did not have adequate science reading material. Inside the atom there is positively charged nucleus and inside the nucleus there is positively charged proton and neutron (0)charge and outside part of nucleus there is negatively charged electron and it is revolving in specific orbit and there is K,L,M,N shell and for different elements the number of electron are changing In the atom on different shell now this time there are more shell defined by scientists name as O and p and there are 118 elements above 118 elements 94 or 98 elements are found by nature and other remaining 24 or 20 elements are made artificially discover by scientists

References

1956 non-fiction books Books by Isaac Asimov Science books Abelard-Schuman books {{Physics-book-stub