Atkins & de Paula: Atkins Physical Chemistry 9e Checklist of key ideas

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

classical mechanics, the laws of motion introduced in the seventeenth century by Isaac Newton. quantum mechanics, the laws of motion introduced in the twentieth century by Heisenberg and Schrdinger.

THE ORIGINS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS electromagnetic field, an oscillating electric and magnetic disturbance that spreads as a harmonic wave through space. electric field, a field that acts on charged particles. magnetic field, a field that acts on moving charged particles.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

wavelength, , the peak-to-peak distance of a wave. frequency, v, the number of times per second that a displacement returns to its initial value.
, the reciprocal of the wavelength. wavenumber, v

electromagnetic spectrum, the range of frequencies exhibited by the electromagnetic field and its classification into regions. 7.1 The failures of classical physics black body, an object capable of emitting and absorbing all frequencies of radiation uniformly.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.1 The failures of classical physics (cont) RayleighJeans law, dE = d, = 8kT/ 4. density of states, , the proportionality constant between the range of wavelengths and the energy density in that range: dE = d. ultraviolet catastrophe, the divergence of the energy density of black-body radiation at high frequencies. quantization of energy, the limitation of energies to discrete values. Plancks constant, h = 6.626 08 1034 J s.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.1 The failures of classical physics (cont..)

Planck distribution, dE = d, = (8hc/5)/(ehc/kT 1). Dulong and Petits law: the molar heat capacities of all monatomic solids are the same, and close to 25 J K1 mol1. Einstein formula, CV,m = 3Rf, f = (E/T)2{e_E/2T/(e_E/T 1)} Einstein temperature, E = hv/k.
T Debye formula, CV,m = 3Rf, f = 3 D
3

D / T

x 4e x

(e

dx .

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.1 The failures of classical physics (cont..)

Debye temperature, D = hvD/k. spectrum, the record of intensity of light transmitted, absorbed, or scattered as a function of frequency, wavelength, or wavenumber. spectroscopy, the detection and analysis of a spectrum. spectroscopic transition, a change of state that gives rise to a feature in spectrum. Bohr frequency transition, the relation between the change in energy and the frequency of the radiation emitted or absorbed: E = hv.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.2 Waveparticle duality photon, a particle of electromagnetic radiation. photoelectric effect, the ejection of electrons from metals when they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation: mev2 = hv . work function, , the energy required to remove an electron from the metal to infinity . DavissonGermer experiment, the diffraction of electrons by a crystal. electron diffraction, the diffraction of electrons by an object in their path. de Broglie relation, = h/p. waveparticle duality, the joint particle and wave character of matter and radiation.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

THE DYNAMICS OF MICROSCOPIC SYSTEMS wavefunction, , a mathematical function obtained by solving the Schrdinger equation and which contains all the dynamical information about a system. 7.3 The Schrdinger equation time-independent Schrdinger equation, ( 2/2m)(d2/dx2) + V( x) = E. 7.4 The Born interpretation of the wavefunction Born interpretation, the value of ||2 at a point is proportional to the probability of finding the particle at that point.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.4 The Born interpretation of the wavefunction (cont..)

Born interpretation, the value of ||2 at a point is proportional to the probability of finding the particle at that point. probability density, the probability of finding a particle in a region divided by the volume of the region. probability amplitude, the square-root of the probability density (the wavefunction itself). normalization constant, N = 1/{* dx}1/2. spherical polar coordinates, the radius r , the colatitude , and the azimuth . The volume element in spherical coordinates is r2sin drdd. quantization, confinement of a dynamical observable to discrete values.

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.4 The Born interpretation of the wavefunction (cont..)

constraints on the wavefunction, the conditions a wavefunction must obey (be continuous, have a continuous first derivative, be single-valued, and be square-integrable). QUANTUM MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES 7.5 The information in a wavefunction node, a point where a wavefunction passes through zero . operator, something that carries out a mathematical operation on a function. hamiltonian operator, the operator for the total energy of a = E . system, H

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.5 The information in a wavefunction (cont..)

= . eigenvalue, the constant in the eigenvalue equation = . eigenfunction, the function in the eigenvalue equation
= . eigenvalue equation, an equation of the form

observable, measurable properties of a system. position operator, x = x . momentum operator, p x = (/i)d/dx. hermitian operator, an operator for which it is true that dx = dx

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.5 The information in a wavefunction (cont..)

orthogonal functions, i* j d = 0. linear combination of two functions, c1f + c2g. superposition, a linear combination of wavefunctions. complete set of functions, functions that can be used to express any arbitrary function as a linear combination.

d . expectation value, =
7.6 The uncertainty principle Heisenberg uncertainty principle: it is impossible to specify simultaneously, with arbitrary precision, both the 1 momentum and the position of a particle; pq . 2

Chapter 7: Quantum Theory: Introduction and Principles

7.6 The uncertainty principle (cont..)

wave packet, a localized wavefunction formed by superimposing a series of wavefunctions. complementary observables, observables corresponding to non-commuting operators.
1, 2 = 0. commuting operators, operators for which 1, 2 = 1 2 2 1 commutator,

general form of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle: 1 1 2 1 , 2 2

Atomic Units

SI

atomic unit =

mass of an electron : charge :

h 1 2 m e = 9.10938 10 -31 kg 1 e (1.602176 10 -19 C ) 1

4 0 2 -11 length : Bohr radius a 0 = = 5 . 29177 10 m 1 2 me e vacuum permittivi ty 0 : 4 0 1 energy : 27.21eV = 627.5095kc al/mol = 4.184 627.5095 10 3 J/mol = 1 hartree