What happens to the atoms when you die?

When we die, our bodies do not turn into nothing; rather, they are broken down into their constituent parts and recycled into the ecosystem. In short, our atoms go on long after we are gone. As you may know, atoms contain protons and neutrons, and they are surrounded by a “shell” of electrons.

Do atoms exist forever?

As it turns out, atoms do have a finite lifespan, because protons have a finite lifespan. Eventually, protons will decay into short lived subatomic particles. This will happen in 10^32 years. Or 100 nonillion years.

Do atoms ever touch?

If “touching” is taken to mean that two atoms influence each other significantly, then atoms do indeed touch, but only when they get close enough. With 95\% of the atom’s electron probability density contained in this mathematical surface, we could say that atoms do not touch until their 95\% regions begin to overlap.

What happens to the universe when you die?

In death, the collection of atoms of which you are composed (a universe within the universe) are repurposed. Those atoms and that energy, which originated during the Big Bang, will always be around.

What happens to the atoms in your body when you die?

When we are cremated, the majority of atoms in your body which are hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur are turned into gases due to the high heat of the burning process. These gases enter the atmosphere in the form of water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.

What happens to our energy when we die?

We exchange energy with our surroundings. We can gain energy (again, through chemical processes), and we can lose it (by expelling waste or emitting heat). In death, the collection of atoms of which you are composed (a universe within the universe) are repurposed.

How many people have died since the dawn of humanity?

About 100 billion people have died since the dawn of humanity. Since the law of conservation of matter says that matter cannot be created or destroyed, all their atoms have to be still be around. The two most common human practices for disposing of dead bodies is burial underground and cremation.