What does “molecules to the atom” mean?












1














I am translating a book and I am confused with this sentence:




When Madame Curie started out in search of radium, when nobody knew what radium was like, they did not know how many molecules to the atom,...



Success Habits: Proven Principles for Greater Wealth, Health, and Happiness

Napoleon Hill, pub Pan Macmillan 2019




What does it mean by "molecules to the atom"?






expressions







share|improve this question









New contributor




Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 3




    Might need more context. As is, it seems like the author has the terms reversed and it should have been 'atoms to the molecule.
    – Jeeped
    7 hours ago










  • I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it’s asking about science not English
    – Jim
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    It might mean "particles" rather than molecules.
    – Pam
    6 hours ago










  • It may be sarcastic, or referring to the Aristotelian version of "atom". Or both.
    – Hot Licks
    2 hours ago
















1














I am translating a book and I am confused with this sentence:




When Madame Curie started out in search of radium, when nobody knew what radium was like, they did not know how many molecules to the atom,...



Success Habits: Proven Principles for Greater Wealth, Health, and Happiness

Napoleon Hill, pub Pan Macmillan 2019




What does it mean by "molecules to the atom"?






expressions







share|improve this question









New contributor




Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 3




    Might need more context. As is, it seems like the author has the terms reversed and it should have been 'atoms to the molecule.
    – Jeeped
    7 hours ago










  • I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it’s asking about science not English
    – Jim
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    It might mean "particles" rather than molecules.
    – Pam
    6 hours ago










  • It may be sarcastic, or referring to the Aristotelian version of "atom". Or both.
    – Hot Licks
    2 hours ago














1












1








1







I am translating a book and I am confused with this sentence:




When Madame Curie started out in search of radium, when nobody knew what radium was like, they did not know how many molecules to the atom,...



Success Habits: Proven Principles for Greater Wealth, Health, and Happiness

Napoleon Hill, pub Pan Macmillan 2019




What does it mean by "molecules to the atom"?






expressions







share|improve this question









New contributor




Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I am translating a book and I am confused with this sentence:




When Madame Curie started out in search of radium, when nobody knew what radium was like, they did not know how many molecules to the atom,...



Success Habits: Proven Principles for Greater Wealth, Health, and Happiness

Napoleon Hill, pub Pan Macmillan 2019




What does it mean by "molecules to the atom"?






expressions




expressions






share|improve this question









New contributor




Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 6 hours ago









Andrew Leach♦

79.5k8150256




79.5k8150256






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Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 8 hours ago









Phuong Trang Galaxykontum

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61




New contributor




Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Phuong Trang Galaxykontum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 3




    Might need more context. As is, it seems like the author has the terms reversed and it should have been 'atoms to the molecule.
    – Jeeped
    7 hours ago










  • I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it’s asking about science not English
    – Jim
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    It might mean "particles" rather than molecules.
    – Pam
    6 hours ago










  • It may be sarcastic, or referring to the Aristotelian version of "atom". Or both.
    – Hot Licks
    2 hours ago














  • 3




    Might need more context. As is, it seems like the author has the terms reversed and it should have been 'atoms to the molecule.
    – Jeeped
    7 hours ago










  • I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it’s asking about science not English
    – Jim
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    It might mean "particles" rather than molecules.
    – Pam
    6 hours ago










  • It may be sarcastic, or referring to the Aristotelian version of "atom". Or both.
    – Hot Licks
    2 hours ago








3




3




Might need more context. As is, it seems like the author has the terms reversed and it should have been 'atoms to the molecule.
– Jeeped
7 hours ago




Might need more context. As is, it seems like the author has the terms reversed and it should have been 'atoms to the molecule.
– Jeeped
7 hours ago












I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it’s asking about science not English
– Jim
7 hours ago




I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it’s asking about science not English
– Jim
7 hours ago




1




1




It might mean "particles" rather than molecules.
– Pam
6 hours ago




It might mean "particles" rather than molecules.
– Pam
6 hours ago












It may be sarcastic, or referring to the Aristotelian version of "atom". Or both.
– Hot Licks
2 hours ago




It may be sarcastic, or referring to the Aristotelian version of "atom". Or both.
– Hot Licks
2 hours ago










1 Answer
1






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oldest

votes


















1














It means "how many molecules were contained in an atom": "molecules to the atom" is an expression of a ratio, and by convention the larger quantity is put last.



Now, this is nonsense, as molecules consist of atoms, not the other way round. However, it does appear to be what the author wrote (if the representation in Google Books is anything to go by): if you're translating it, presumably you should represent that nonsense accurately in your own language.






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    It means "how many molecules were contained in an atom": "molecules to the atom" is an expression of a ratio, and by convention the larger quantity is put last.



    Now, this is nonsense, as molecules consist of atoms, not the other way round. However, it does appear to be what the author wrote (if the representation in Google Books is anything to go by): if you're translating it, presumably you should represent that nonsense accurately in your own language.






    share|improve this answer




























      1














      It means "how many molecules were contained in an atom": "molecules to the atom" is an expression of a ratio, and by convention the larger quantity is put last.



      Now, this is nonsense, as molecules consist of atoms, not the other way round. However, it does appear to be what the author wrote (if the representation in Google Books is anything to go by): if you're translating it, presumably you should represent that nonsense accurately in your own language.






      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1






        It means "how many molecules were contained in an atom": "molecules to the atom" is an expression of a ratio, and by convention the larger quantity is put last.



        Now, this is nonsense, as molecules consist of atoms, not the other way round. However, it does appear to be what the author wrote (if the representation in Google Books is anything to go by): if you're translating it, presumably you should represent that nonsense accurately in your own language.






        share|improve this answer














        It means "how many molecules were contained in an atom": "molecules to the atom" is an expression of a ratio, and by convention the larger quantity is put last.



        Now, this is nonsense, as molecules consist of atoms, not the other way round. However, it does appear to be what the author wrote (if the representation in Google Books is anything to go by): if you're translating it, presumably you should represent that nonsense accurately in your own language.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 5 hours ago

























        answered 6 hours ago









        Andrew Leach♦

        79.5k8150256




        79.5k8150256






















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