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Topic: Intermolecular space  (Read 1875 times)

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Offline Beanyboy

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Intermolecular space
« on: April 13, 2018, 07:35:08 AM »
In matter, what occupies the intermolecular space?
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Offline Corribus

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Re: Intermolecular space
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2018, 09:00:48 AM »
Bearing in mind the fact that molecules/atoms have no discrete boundaries, and, strictly speaking, electronic wavefunctions extend to infinity: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_state
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Offline Beanyboy

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Re: Intermolecular space
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2018, 12:42:12 PM »
I had a feeling that it was probably "quantum fields", or at least something of that nature. Thanks so much for taking time out to reply!
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Offline Enthalpy

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Re: Intermolecular space
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2018, 05:27:39 AM »
In solids and liquids, the distances are short, so "electrons" are the most striking observable thing there, as Corribus put.

Farther from the molecules, for instance in a gas, you may observe electric and magnetic fields, dropping quickly with the distance.

"Quantum fields" if you wish... But what are the concrete consequences? As far as I know, observation was made within atoms, where the electric field is big. For usual life, "vacuum is empty" is quite accurate.

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