Quantum Mechanics Review

These flashcards cover vocabulary and key concepts related to quantum mechanics and energy of electrons based on the lecture notes.

Photon

A photon is a particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation.

Wavelength (λ)

The distance between successive crests of a wave, often measured in meters.

Frequency (ν)

The number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time, measured in hertz (Hz).

Energy of a photon (E)

The energy of a photon can be calculated using the equation E = hν, where h is Planck's constant.

Planck's constant (h)

A fundamental constant used in quantum mechanics, approximately equal to 6.626 x 10⁻³⁴ joules per second.

Speed of light (c)

The speed of light in a vacuum, approximately 3.00 x 10⁸ meters per second.

Quantum number 'n'

The principal quantum number that indicates the energy level of an electron in an atom.

Quantum number 'l'

The azimuthal quantum number that indicates the shape of the electron's orbital.

Probability density

The likelihood of finding an electron in a specific region of space.

Heisenberg uncertainty principle

A principle stating that certain pairs of physical properties cannot be simultaneously known to arbitrary precision, such as position and momentum.

Excited state

A state of an atom where one or more electrons have absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level.

Ground state

The lowest energy state of an atom, where electrons occupy the lowest available energy levels.

Degenerate orbitals

Orbitals with the same energy level but different orientations.

Pauli exclusion principle

A principle stating that no two electrons in an atom can have the same four quantum numbers.

Orbital

The region of space around an atomic nucleus where there is a high probability of finding an electron.