Chem 132 Workshop 1 Week of 1/29/24
Key concepts from this week:
• Phenomena classical mechanics does not explain (what are the historical origins of
quantum theory? What were some of the problems with classical physics that
needed to be addressed?)
• DeBroglie wavelength for matter (What is a matter wave? What does computing
the wavelength of a particle tell us?)
• When do we need to use quantum theory (Why do we need it for chemistry?)
• Light, relationship between frequency, wavelength, and energy
• Bohr model for hydrogen (what is its basic premise? What evidence is used to
support this model?)
• Bohr formula for energy levels in hydrogen (How do you compute absorption,
emission, ionization energies, and wavelengths?)
• Uncertainty principle (What does it say? What does it mean?)
• Schrodinger equation for a hydrogen atom (what does each term mean?)
• Wavefunctions
behaves like waves not particles
-absence of lagtime
-speed of electron
1. Basic principles of quantum mechanics
"Classical view" a) Name an experiment that could not be understood without quantum theory.
Describe the results of the experiment and explain why they are not compatible
speed
with classical physics. (i.e. what would happen in the experiment if classical
physics were appropriate?). Photoelectric effect, blackbody radiation, line spectra, electron difraction
intensity b) Calculate the DeBroglie wavelength of an electron traveling at 10 % of the speed
of light. Explain physically what the number resulting from your calculation means
about the circumstances under which this electron should be considered to have
wavelike as opposed to particle-like properties. Why does the realm of Chemistry
speed
require the quantum theory? 3 x 10^8 m/s = speed of light 6.626 x 10^-34
so, particle = 3 x 10^7 m/s
(9.11 x 10^-31)(3 x 10^7)
c) Consider a person of average mass (80 kg in North America) moving at an average
= 2.42 x 10^-11 m
walking speed (1.5 m/s) through a doorway that is 1 m wide. What is the de Broglie
wavelength of this person? Under what circumstances could this person achieve a
first order diffraction (n = 1) angle of 1° upon passing through the doorway? Are
these circumstances physically achievable? Use the results of this calculation to
explain whether we need to use quantum mechanics to describe a person walking
through a doorway.
6.626 x 10^-34
5.52 x 10^-36
(80)(1.5)
shows that the wavelength of a human is super super small; (tells us we shouldn't use quantum mechanics
to describe a person.
(1)(lambda) = 2(1)sin(1)
lambda = 1.68 meters
2(pi)(r) = n(lambda)
2. The Bohr model of hydrogen
a) Make a sketch that shows how thinking of the electron in hydrogen as a wave that
must constructively interfere with itself results in the electron having a well-defined
distance from the nucleus. Note that computing the energies associated with the
distances defined by your sketch results in the Bohr formula for hydrogen energy
levels that we derived in class. Why didn’t I also ask you to think of the proton
(Hydrogen nucleus) as a wave in making this sketch?
b) Recall the Bohr formula from lecture: nuclear charge (atomic #)
constant for h
ionization energy %!
for particle at n 𝐸! = −2.178 × 10"#$ !! (J/atom)
principle qn
Before trying to apply it, let's make sure we know what it means. Clearly define in
English the variables En, Z, and n. What are they? What are their units?
c) Use the Bohr formula to calculate the ionization energy of hydrogen atoms in units
of J/atom. What is the maximum wavelength photon that is capable of ionizing a
hydrogen atom? Can you also calculate the ionization energy of a helium atom with
the Bohr formula? If so, please do it and compare. If not, explain why not and
decide whether you think the ionization energy of helium will be larger or smaller
than that for hydrogen. Explain your conclusion in fundamental terms (i.e. arguing
from the relevant Coulomb forces on an electron in helium)
3. Meaning of the Schrödinger Equation
The general form of Schrödinger's equation in spherical coordinates is given below:
potential energy
Kinetic energy term ℏ & x ,y ,z
(wave function) − ∇ 𝜓(𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙) + 𝑉(𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙)𝜓(𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙) = 𝐸𝜓(𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙)
2𝑚 total energy
gradient (double derivative of x,y,and,z)
What does each term represent? What is the formula for 𝑉(𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙) for the hydrogen
atom? Consider your answer to question 2a on this workshop describing the Bohr
model for the hydrogen atom. How does this model compare to the results obtained
from Schrödinger's equation? Which parts of the Schrödinger equation for the
hydrogen atom also appear in the derivation of Bohr's model that we discussed in
class?
Closure exercise for after workshop:
Revisit the bullet points listed in the "Key concepts from this week" portion of the
workshop. Can you map the various problems you solved in the workshop onto these
concepts? In other words, which problems are examples of using which ideas?
