Atomicitás

Atomicitás is a term used across disciplines to denote the quality of being composed of discrete, indivisible units called atoms, or more broadly the idea of an indivisible unit within a process or system. The meaning varies by context, but it typically concerns whether something can be separated into fundamental parts without breaking its integrity.

In chemistry and physics, atomicitás often refers to the number of atoms in a molecule, known as the atomicity of the molecule. Monatomic species, such as helium or argon, consist of a single atom. Diatomic molecules, such as hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), and nitrogen (N2), consist of two atoms. More complex molecules contain three or more atoms. The concept also relates to how atoms themselves form elements and compounds, and to how atoms combine to create the structure of matter.

In computer science, atomicitás describes a property of operations or transactions whereby they are executed entirely or not at all. This all-or-nothing behavior ensures system consistency, especially in databases and distributed systems. Implementations rely on mechanisms such as transaction logging, rollback capabilities, and atomic commits to prevent partial updates.

In philosophy and general science, atomicitás can refer to the historical notion of atoms as indivisible building blocks of matter, as well as to modern atomic theory, which models atoms as consisting of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons. The term thus bridges historical ideas about indivisibility with contemporary understandings of matter and computation.