Based on Gerry's observation of the crystalline structure of the salt sample under a powerful microscope, we can infer the following about the arrangement and behavior of the atoms:
- The atoms are vibrating in place: This is characteristic of solid materials, particularly crystalline solids like salt (sodium chloride). In a crystal, atoms are arranged in a highly ordered and repeating pattern. Although they are fixed in positions relative to each other, they do vibrate around their equilibrium positions.
The other options can be ruled out for the following reasons:
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The atoms have spread out from each other: This is more typical of gases or liquids, where atoms or molecules have more space between them.
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The atoms are sliding past each other: This is indicative of liquids or certain types of solids (like some metals), but in a crystalline structure, atoms are generally locked in fixed positions relative to one another.
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The atoms have no particular pattern: This would describe an amorphous material (like glass) rather than a crystalline structure, which has a well-defined, repeating pattern.
In conclusion, Gerry's observation most accurately indicates that in the crystalline structure of salt, the atoms are vibrating in place.