mahela007

thanks... (specially for not using QM ;-)

Will the energy gap between the n=1 and n= 3 orbitals be the same in different elements? For example, will the n=1 to n=3 energy gap in hydrogen be equal to that of helium? (it isn't right?)

why is energy liberated when the bond is broken?

When ATP is converted to ADP one bond is broken and a phosphate group is liberated. But shouldn't energy be put in to the molecule to break a bond? If that's the case, how does breaking the phosphate bond allow ATP to give energy to other molecules?

For hybridization to occur, must electron always be promoted? Is it possible for hybridization to occur without the promotion of an electron?

Secondly, if electrons DO need to be promoted, must there be at least one completely empty orbital in the shell it is being promoted to?

For example, say an electron is promoted from 2s to one of the 2p orbitals. What if every 2p orbital already had 1 electron? (a configuration such as [math]{2s}^{2},{2p}^{3}[/math]). Would an electron still be promoted to one of the p orbitals to make a configuration like

[math]{2s}^{1},{2p}^{4}[/math].. (my problem lies in the fact that after promotion (if it does occur) that there will be two electrons in a one of the p orbitals... Can that happen in when electrons are promoted?

What is the difference between VB theory and Molecular orbital theory?

Tutorials on valence bond theory state that the orbitals of the individual atoms overlap when a bond forms. Doesn't that also form a molecular orbital?

if so what is molecular orbital theory?

ah... thanks for your help , everyone!

I guess I though I posted it because of the "007" part in out usernames.

Whoops... In my rush to make this post I obviously made a typo.. Yeah I meant Zinc is more reactive than Fe

Merged post follows:

iron is [Ar] 3d6 4s2

zinc is [Ar] 3d10 4s2

 

you don't need the inner shells for this application so they've been substituted with [Ar] which is the electron configuration of argon.

 

pay particular attention to the 3d orbitals.

I'm guessing that since it's the 4s orbitals that take part in reactions, the effects of the shielding of the 3d electrons comes into play. Since the shielding effect of the electrons in zinc is greater it can involve it 4s electron in reaction more easily.

Am I right?

thanks.

thanks for trying... I was looking for info on the actual electronic configuration (1s2 2s2 etc)

Can you explain why zinc reacts with oxygen more readily than iron because of it's electronic configuration?

EDIT: If you want to check the electronic config of both metals search google for "dynamic periodic table" and follow the first link.

I think understanding what "quasi free" electrons are is quite beyond me.. ;-)

So.. basically it's not electron jumping up and down in the energy levels that causes black body radiation but the vibrational energy of atoms right?

but what are the two particles which are colliding? is it two adjacent nuclei?

what do you mean by "acceleration of charges during collisions"?

How is light reflected off a particular material at atomic level? And how does that relate to blackbody radiation?

so, in other words, it's just a question of probability?

If gamma rays have the highest frequency, then they must have the highest energy. So why aren't they able to ionize atoms? (by removing electrons)

Thanks a lot!

Can someone explain to me what the wave function of an electron is? And if possible use plain English without the complicated math which is involved .

thanks for the replies... By the way.. when electron jump down to lower energy levels in the atom, do they always liberate only one photon?

you mean when they jump between energy levels?

When reading anything about the Max Planck's work we often come across the "oscillation of an electron".

I've just managed to get around to understanding electron orbitals... The dumbbell shape for P orbitals, spherical shapes for S and so on.. (at a very basic level). From what I understand we can't predict with certainty where the electron will be.. This sounds to me like a random movement within the specified orbital. In that case, what's this oscillation I keep reading about?

thanks for your help

yes.. I was talking about E=hf

I don't understand... Don't photons have an amplitude? (I'm very very new to this stuff.. If this was an programming related forum I'd call myself a NOOB.. )

I think I might need a description of what a photon is and why it has a frequency...

so why does Max Planck's equation only mention frequency?

First of all.. I posted this thread under quantum mechanics because I think it has something to do with Max Planck,s equation.

Anyway.. my text book says that the energy of light depends on it's frequency. Now this has me quite puzzled. In a mechanical wave, such as the wave one could make in a piece of string tied at one end to a fixed object, the energy arriving at the fixed end would be dependent on the amplitude of the wave of the string right? So why is this not true for electromagnetic waves?

(I know there are many differences between electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves.. but I just can't figure out what makes the energy of one depend on the frequency and the other depend on amplitude)