Quantum Mechanics Flashcards
what does the schrodinger equation explain
how particles (electrons) behave
what is the quantum object characterised by
a wave function
whats the probability that a particle will hope to a different place given by
a quantity called the action
explain wave function duality
-objects bigger than a molecule have a negligible wavelength
-an electron is tiny so its wavelength is around the size of an atom
-electrons are viewed as particles+waves
how would you describe electrons in terms of waves in an atom
they’re circular standing waves surrounding the nucleus
what is an objects wavelength inversely proportional to
its mass
how do you calculate the energy of a photon
=planks constant x frequency
=h x f
explain what the wave function is
-a probability amplitude
-the square of the magnitude of the wave function describes the probability of an electron existing in an exact location
explain an electron is terms of quantum mechanics
a cloud of probability density
summarise the main info about schrodinger equation
-applies the quantum systems
-describes the systems 3-dimensional wave function
-calculates the wave function of a system
-the info it contains is probabilistic (Heisenberg uncertainty principle)
what does the Schrodinger equation tell us
where/how the particle is inside the walls
what is assumed for a particle in a 1D box
a potential V(x)=infinity, everywhere except in between x=0 and x=a, where V(x)=0
what does it mean when V(x)=infinity
a mathematical way of saying the particle is definitely not there
what does P(x) when V(x)=infintity
P(x)=0
the probability density function equals zero
what 3 quantum numbers are acceptable wave functions numbered by
n=principle quantum number
l=orbital angular momentum quantum number
MI=magnetic orbital quantum numbers
what does n describe
size +energy of that orbital
what does l describe
shape of the orbital
what does MI describe
orientation of the orbital
list the relationship between between these 3 quantum numbers
N=1,2,3
L=0…n-1 e.g. when n=3, l=0,1,2
MI= -l…l e.g. when l=1, MI=-1,0,1
what is the wave function for an electron called
an orbital
describe the quantum numbers of a degenerate orbital
-the same energy, n
-different l and MI
for the h atom describe the orbitals
all n^2 orbitals for a given value of n are degenerate
what does the radial part (r)determine
the spatial extent of the wavefunction
how do you calculate how many nodes an atomic orbital has
=n-1
what does the radial distribution function give
the probability of finding the electron in spherical shell of thickness at distance r
what does the angular part of an orbital determine
the shape of the orbital
what does ref equal at the nucleus
0
what is an orbital a product of
=radial part x angular part
what the angular part of an s orbital
-they have no angular dependance
-they’re spherically symmetric
compare the radial part of 2s in comparison to 2p
radial part of 2s is more highly curved(1 radial node)than radial part of 2p(no radial nodes) so 2s has more radial kinetic energy so the e- has more energy moving in and out of the nucleus
compare the angular part of 2s in comparison to 2p
angular part of 2s(no angular node) is less curved than angular part of 2p(1 angular node), 2p has more angular kinetic energy so the energy is used moving around the nucleus