Quantum Mechanics

Electromagnetic Radiation

electromagnetic radiation composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

Light

electromagnetic radiation composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

Wave

a period of oscillation by which energy is transmitted through space

Amplitude

vertical height of a crest.

Wavelength

distance between successive waves

Nu

number of wave crests that passes through a single point per second (hertz).

Speed of Light (c)

3.00 x 10^8 m/s.

Quantum Mechanics

study of matter and light on the atomic and subatomic scale.

Blackbody Radiation

spectrum of light emitted by heating a solid object.

Quantum of Energy

smallest quantity of energy that can be emitted or absorbed.

Photoelectric Effect

observed when metals emit electrons in the presence of light.

Photon of Light

packet of energy.

Double Split Experiment

diffraction of light through two slits produces an interference pattern.

Constructive Interference

waves are in sync.

Destructive Interference

waves cancel each other out.

Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory

hypothesized oscillating electric and magnetic fields of light traveling at the speed of light.

Photon of Light Equation

E=hv, where h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10^-34 Js).

Radian Energy

emitted and absorbed in discrete quantities.

Threshold Energy

minimum energy required for electrons to be emitted from a metal.

Kinetic Energy Equation

Ekinetic=Ephoton - (threshold).

Atomic Spectroscopy

study of electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted by atoms.

Emission Spectrum

unique spectrum of light emitted by different elements.

Electron Transition

radiation is emitted or absorbed when electrons transition between orbits.

Energy Emitted from an Atom Equation

E=-Rh (1/nfinal^2 - 1/initial^2).

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

you cannot know both the velocity and position of an electron with certainty.

Complementary Properties

the more you know about one property, the less you know about the other.

Louis De Broglie

suggested that particles are transported by waves and that light behaves as both a wave and a particle.

Shell

any orbital with the same value "n".

S Orbital

lowest energy orbital, symmetrical, L=0, ML=0.

P Orbital

three orientations (-1, 0, 1) on the XYZ plane.

D Orbital

five orientations (DXZ, DYZ, DXY, DX^2-Y^2, DZ^2).

Principal Quantum Number (n)

describes the size and energy of the orbital.

Angular Momentum Number

denotes the shape of the orbital.

Magnetic Momentum Quantum (m1)

determines the orientation of the orbital in space.

Spin Quantum Number (ms)

specifies the orientation of the electron in the orbital.

Frequency

number of waves that pass a fixed point per unit time

Order of electromagnetic spectrum

gamma, x-ray, UV, infared, terahertz, microwave, radio

E=hv

use when you know frequency

E=hc/wavelength

use when you know wavelength