Hydrogen atom
A hydrogen atom is the simplest neutral atom, with one proton in its nucleus and one electron around it.
105.8 pmCharacteristic sizeBeyond the eye
Hydrogen atom vs DNA double helix
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
DNA double helix
DNA is the molecule that stores hereditary information in living organisms.
2 nmHelix diameterThe helix diameter of DNA double helix is about 18.9 times the characteristic size of Hydrogen atom.
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Hydrogen atom105.8 pmCharacteristic size
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DNA double helix2 nmHelix diameter
Inset ×13.5Hydrogen atom is too small to see clearly at this scale. The ring marks its position; only the inset is enlarged.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Hydrogen atom
A diameter of twice the Bohr radius, used as a characteristic scale. An electron cloud has no hard outer surface.
NIST — 2022 CODATA fundamental constants
The marked characteristic size is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
DNA double helix
A 2 nm diameter scale for B-form double-stranded DNA. The pictured strand length is illustrative, not the selected measurement.
University of Utah — Cell size and scale
The marked helix diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares characteristic size with helix diameter. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
Hydrogen atom
105.8 pmCharacteristic size · representative
A diameter of twice the Bohr radius, used as a characteristic scale. An electron cloud has no hard outer surface.
DNA double helix
2 nmHelix diameter · representative
A 2 nm diameter scale for B-form double-stranded DNA. The pictured strand length is illustrative, not the selected measurement.
- Comparing
- Characteristic size ↔ Helix diameter
- Relative size
- DNA double helix is larger on this measurement by a factor of about 18.9.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- Hydrogen atom is labelled representative; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- DNA double helix is labelled representative; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
MicroscopicHydrogen atom105.8 pmA hydrogen atom is the simplest neutral atom, with one proton in its nucleus and one electron around it.MicroscopicDNA double helix2 nmDNA is the molecule that stores hereditary information in living organisms.
Fundamental physicsProton1.682 fmA proton is a positively charged particle found in the nucleus of atoms, made up of quarks.
Microscopic10 µm cell10 µmA cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms.
People70 µm hair70 µmA hair is a slender strand of protein that grows from the skin of humans and other mammals.Side by side
Another point of view.
