2nd lecture - orbitals Flashcards
electrons can be described as
waves
particles
electrons have what duality
wave-particle duality
what can we not be sure of for wave/particles
position + momentum
more we know about one, the less we know about the other
why cant we know the position and momentum of an e-
when we look at it, the light energy being reflect off it changes the e- momentum due to the increase of energy from the light.
where are electrons found and why is it not in orbits
orbits: e- would have a precise position and path
e- are found in orbitals
what is an orbital
a region where the probability of finding an electron is high
what is a wave equation
an equation that describes a wave.
eg: sin equation will always give the same shape of wave.
what does the schrodinger equation tell u
how a particle behaves
where an e- is gonna go
probability distribution in space
what is the wavefunction
mathematical description of an e-
equivalent to the y axis on the sin wave
cannot be measured
amplitude of the equation at a given value when the schrodinger equation gives the wave
what do we use instead of psi (wave function)
wave function^2
gives a positive number
what is wavefunction^2
probability of finding an e- at xyz
useful in predicting how e- interact with other atoms in bonds
quantum number n
principle quantum number
what integers can n be
1
2
3
4 etc
not 0
what does the principle quantum number determine
size and energy of the orbital
what does a larger principle quantum number mean
its further away from the nucleus
