According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, can an electron be found in an exact spot within an atom?

• A. No, because its exact position and momentum cannot both be known simultaneously.
• B. Yes, but only if the atom is in its ground state.
• C. Yes, the electron's position can be determined precisely at any moment.
• D. No, because electrons do not exist within atoms.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know both the exact position and exact momentum of a particle, such as an electron, with perfect precision.
2. Recognize that electrons exhibit wave-particle duality, meaning they do not have a single, fixed position like classical particles but rather exist as a probability distribution around the nucleus.
3. Interpret the principle in the context of an atom: the more precisely we try to measure an electron's position, the less precisely we can know its momentum, and vice versa.
4. Conclude that because of this fundamental limit, an electron cannot be pinpointed to an exact spot within an atom at any given time.
5. Therefore, the correct understanding is that the electron's position is described by a probability cloud, not a precise location, making the statement 'No, because its exact position and momentum cannot both be known simultaneously' the accurate answer.