RLO: Structure of the Atom

Why atoms?

The human body, like all other matter is made up of chemicals. Some of these chemicals, like water are also found in the environment, whereas others such as proteins are unique to biological systems. Nevertheless they are all governed by the same chemical laws.

Even in ancient times observers realised that matter must be composed of minute building blocks. The Greeks used the word atomata to describe these particles, although they only guessed at their existence. We now know a considerable amount about these building blocks and have given them the name “atom” based on this Greek terminology.

Nearly everything that occurs within our bodies, for example in digestion, respiration, muscle movements, even our thought processes, consists of a complex series of reactions in which chemicals, made up of these atoms, are formed, modified or broken down. In order to understand these processes then, we need to know a little about these atoms.

Click on the small arrows situated below the rlo to move between and replay sections of the movie.