CHEM 111 Lecture 21: CHEM111 Class 21
Document Summary
It is due to heisenberg: cannot know the exact momentum and exact position of small objects, such as electrons. X is the uncertainty in position; p is the uncertainty. The uncertainly principle means that we can"t know the exact position of an electron if we know its energy, which we do. Wave mechanics or quantum mechanics, or models of electrons in an atom. Electrons behave as standing waves in three dimensions. Characterized by integer numbers related to the number of nodes (locations of no vibration) and the number of half-wavelengths in the vibration. Standing waves are characterized by integer numbers related to the number of nodes (locations of no vibrations) and the number of half-wavelengths in the vibration. Solving the equation that describes such a situation produces what are known as wave functions ( greek psi sigh )! is the probability of finding an electron in a given region around the nucleus.