7.4 The Quantum-Mechanical Model of the Atom Flashcards
quantum mechanics
examines the wave nature of objects on the atomic scale
schrodinger equation
Energy of the Atom x Atomic Orbital = Hamilotonian Operator x Atomic Orbital
Atomical Orbital
a mathmatical description of the electron’s matter-wave in three dimensions
orbit
an electron’s path around the nucleus
orbital
a mathmatical function that describes the electron’s matter-wave but has no physical meaning
probability density ψ^2
a measure of the probability of finding the electron in some tiny volume of the atom
electron density diagram
the value for ψ^2 is shown by dots; the greater the density of dots, the higher the probability of finding the electron in that volume
radial probability distribution
the total probability of finding the electron at some distance “r” from the nucleus
probability contour
the electron is somewhere within that volume 90% of the time
Principal quantum number (n)
indicates the relative size of the of the orbital and therefore the relative distance from the nucleus of the peak in the radial probability distribution plot
*the higher the n value, the higher the energy level
the angular momentum quantum number (l)
related to the shape of the orbital
- n limits l
- the # of possible l values = the value of n
the magnetic quantum number (ml)
prescribes the three dimensional orientation of the orbital in the space around the nucleus
- l limits ml
- the # of ml values = 2l + 1
Total # of ml values for a given n value
n^2
level (shells)
given by n value: the smaller the n value, the n value the lower the energy level and the greater the probability that the electron is closer to the nucleus
sublevel (subshells)
given by the l value, gives each shape a letter:
- l = 0, s sublevel
- l = 1, p sublevel
- l = 2, d sublevel
- l = 3, f sublevel
