Originally posted by twhitehead
The supposed motion of an electron around the nucleus of an atom is the realm of quantum physics. I suspect that it does not in-fact orbit the atom but rather has a random location somewhere in the vicinity of the atom - or even an undefined location.

thanks twhitehead. this is not directed at you specifically but it seems hard or impossible to get to the bottom of these sorts of questions, that perhaps the scientists find amateur curiosity tiresome, and cant be bothered to explain things in laymans terms. when one tries to home in on a detail in one area, someone says that is a different realm, eh quantum physics and the end of the discussion. it seems as if "science" is so compartmentalised, that few if any really understand it all.