Direct answer
Atoms have no hard outer surface. A few tenths of a nanometer—roughly 0.1–0.3 nm—is a useful characteristic diameter for comparing their diffuse electron distributions.
Representative value150 pm
In meters1.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ m
Measurement typeCharacteristic length
Put it in context
What are we measuring at this scale?
The apparent size depends on the atom and on how size is defined in a bond, crystal or isolated quantum system. ScaleTrip therefore labels the value as a characteristic length rather than a rigid diameter.
Conceptual visualization
Typical atom
Atoms are diffuse quantum systems; a few tenths of a nanometre is a useful characteristic diameter.
Source and verification
Where the value comes from
ScaleTrip keeps the 100 pm–300 pm range and the characteristic length label visible together.