adatom

An adatom is an adsorbed atom. Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter and chemistry. They can combine to form molecules but cannot be broken down further by ordinary chemical processes. Most of an atom is empty space, with a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by orbiting electrons. The number of protons determines the chemical element. Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms to form new substances. In electrocrystallization, adatoms are intermediate species at the surface that are loosely bound and can move freely before being incorporated into a crystal lattice.1234