Angstrom unit

Angstrom Unit

The angstrom or angstrom unit (Swedish: Ångström) is a unit of length in the metric system, named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström. It is used in the fields of physics, chemistry, and crystallography.

Definition

One angstrom is defined as 1×10⁻¹⁰ metres (or 0.1 nanometres). It is a non-SI unit, which means it is not recognized for use within the International System of Units (SI), but it is still commonly used in various scientific contexts.

Usage

The angstrom unit is most commonly used in the natural sciences to measure atomic radii, molecular sizes, and microscopic structures. It is also used in the study of crystallography to describe the distances between atoms within a crystal structure.

History

The angstrom unit was first introduced by the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström in 1868. He used it in his pioneering work in spectroscopy, and it has since become a standard unit in the field of atomic physics.

See also

• Nanometre
• Picometre
• Micrometre
• International System of Units
• Metric system