Quantum Mechanics Flashcards
Wave Function
- Wave function is used to describe motion of electrons in an atom
Wave function Significance
- wave function squared is related to the probability of finding a particle in a certain region of space
- Electron density also describes the probability of finding an electron and is directly related to the wave function squared
- High wave function value = high electron density
Schrodingers equation
Allows us to determine allowed energies
Outcomes of Schrodinger equation
- Electron location is described by a standing wave
- Gives allowed energies of electron
- Exact position of electron is unknown
- Orbital is not equivalent of an orbit
- 90% chance of finding electron in its orbital
Describing orbitals
- Bohr describes circular orbits for electrons
- Schrodinger describes different solutions possible with orbitals of different shapes
- We can describe characteristics of an orbital using specific quantum number for the orbital
Quantum numbers
n = principle quantum number
l = angular momentum quantum number
m1 = magnetic quantum number
ms = spin quantum number
What is a shell?
Atoms energy levels given by n values; smaller the n value the greater the probability the electron is closer to the nucleus
What is a subshell?
Division of atoms energy levels that are given by l values
l0 = s subshell
l1= p subshell
l2= d subshell
l3= f subshell
What is an orbital?
A combo of n,l,m which specifies the size (E), shape and spacial orientation of one atoms orbital
Shielding effect
Core electrons shield the valence electrons from attractive force of nucleus
Orbital penetration
Describes proximity to which an electron can approach the nucleus
Effective nuclear charge
ENC (Zeff) is a measure of a net attraction to nucleus that an electron experiences when the repulsive electrostatic force between electrons is taken into consideration
