CH 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 27: Photon, Quantum Mechanics, Electric Field

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CH 101
• Professor: John Mc Duffie

Document Summary

Until the beginning of the 20th century it was believed that all physical phenomena were deterministic. Work done at that time by many famous physicists discovered that for sub-atomic particles, the present condition does not determine the future condition. Quantum mechanics forms the foundation of chemistry- explaining the periodic table and the behavior of the elements in chemical bonding- as well as providing the practical basis for lasers, computers, etc. A single speck of dust has more electrons than the number of people who have ever lived on earth. Electron behavior determines much of the behavior of atoms. Directly observing electrons in the atom is impossible, the electron is so small that observing it changes its behavior. Even shining a light on an electron would affect it. Composed of perpendicular oscillating waves, one for the electric field and one for the magnetic field. A magnetic field is a region where a magnetized particle experiences a force.