Announcements: Physical Chemistry

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Lecture 1

Experiments that lead to the demise of classical mechanics for molecules, atoms, and light!

1. blackbody radiation

2. photoelectric effect

3. Davisson and Germer electron scattering

4. Atomic spectra, and Bohr's model


Lecture 2

Introduction of quantization and wave properties

De Broglie waves

Classical Waves:

1. equations of motion for "things" bobbing around in the sea [wave motion].

2. Travelling waves, and the Classical Wave Equation

3. Superposition of waves


Lecture 3

Start with the classical wave equation

Introduce lambda=h/p, and E = h mu [de Broglie and Einstein] into this equation

We showed we could get the SCHRODINGER WAVE EQUATION

This is a quantum mechanical EQUATION OF MOTION

Momentum is represented by an operator, and so is energy E.

The Schrodinger equation is a differential equation: first order in time, second order in space.


Lecture 4

Introduce stationary states for classical waves

Show that if psi(x,y,z,t) = psi(x,y,z) exp[-iEt/hbar], then we get

the time-independent Schrodinger Eqn : H psi = E psi

This is an eigenvalue-eigenvector equation

Given only H, the Hamiltonian operator, we can solve for psi and E

Many chemical problems are TIME INDEPENDENT so we can use the Time-independent Scrodinger EQN.


Lecture 5

What do wavefunctions mean? Born interpretation of what psi . psi* dx is: probability densities

Postulates:

I. physical properties represented by psi

II. solutions obtained from time-dependent or time-independent Schrodinger Equations.

III. dynamic variables represented as operators.

IV. Operators derived from classical expressions using the definition for the "p" operator and "x" operator

V. The eigenvalues represent the possible values for measuring the quantity represented by the operator

VI. Expectation values are measured as an average over many measurments, like , e.g.

Properties of Operators: hermitian, eigenfunctions are orthogonal and properties of degenerate eigenfunctions.


Lecture 6

Exactly solvable 1-D problems

Particle in a box

Energy is quantized: E = n^2h^2 / 8mL^2

The stationary states are bounded by the end of the box

The stationary states are sinusoidal functions with NODES

Electronic states of conjugated chains are approximately like electrons in a 1-D box.

Transitions between the energy levels [E1, E2] can be done using light of a particular frequency, mu:

h mu = E1 - E2


Lecture 7

Separation of variables: particle in a 3-D box

degeneracy

Free-particle

Description of tunneling


Lecture 8

One electron atoms

Definition of the reduced mass, and reduction of the two body problem [nucleus+electron]

to a one-body problem.

Introduction to spherical polar coordinates to make this problem SEPARABLE


Lecture 9

Write the Laplacian operator, and the Hamiltonian in spherical polar coordinates

Show that the equation Hpsi = E psi is separable in these coordinates.

Get three equations to solve: phi equation, theta equation and RADIAL equation (r).


Lecture 10

The phi equation is easily solved, and theta solutions are the Associated Legendre functions

The radial wavefunction is solved using an eqaution solved by Laguerre.

The total wavefunction is a PRODUCT of R(r) Theta (theta) Phi (phi)

the angular functions Phi * Theta are called SPHERICAL HARMONICS

You can get these functions in NORMALIZED FORM from tables.


Lecture 11

There are 3 quantum numbers: n, l, and ml.

The energy only depends on n, so there are many degenerate states for each n!

The l quantum numbers can go from 0.... n-1. They can be denoted by letters: s,p,d.. etc

s-orbitals are spherically symmetric

l=1 are the p orbitals. l=1, ml= is the pz orbital. px and py are made from linear combinations of the spherical harmonics Y(1,1) and Y(1,-1)

RADIAL DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS r^2 |R(r)|^2 give the probability of finding an electron in a thin spherical shell

a distance r from the nucleus.


Lecture 12

The quantum numbers l and ml are related to the ANGULAR MOMENTUM of an electron in an ORBITAL (wavefunction).

The total angular momentum is l(l+1) hbar^2

the projection of the angular momentum in the z direction Lz = ml hbar.

Lx and Ly cannot be measured simultaneously with Lz

consequences: p1, p0 and p-1 are degenerate in energy.

they all have the same l value and hence same total angular momentum

they all differ in their angular momentum in the z-direction, so in a MAGNETIC FIELD in the

z direction, they differ in energy


Lecture 13

Electrons have another quantum number! Cannot get it from the SCHRODINGER EQUATION

Its called spin; which has a quantum number S, and Sz = -1/2 or + 1/2.

Many electron atoms cannot be solved exactly. eg. He has a nuclear charge Z=2, and 2 electrons

the ELECTRON REPULSION makes this problem NOT SEPARABLE


Lecture 14

Two methods can be used to solve He approximately:

1. the variational principle

2. perturbation methods

Both give energies close to experiment of -79eV.


Lecture 15

Many electron wavefunctions need to be anti-symmetric [Pauli Principle]

The ZEROTH ORDER wavefunctions for many electron systems can be written as SLATER determinants

We generated the zeroth order wavefunctions for He in the ground state [1s1s] and

the first excited state [1s2s]

This excited state can be a triplet [S=1] or singlet [S=0] state

the triplet is lower in energy


Lecture 16

Total angular momentum: J = L+S

Many electron states are given a shorthand notation -> term symbols!

Let's do some molecules!