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9: Molecular Quantum Mechanics

  • Page ID
    518089
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    • 9.1: The Born-Oppenheimer Approximation Simplifies the Schrödinger Equation for Molecules
      This page covers the Born-Oppenheimer approximation in quantum chemistry, which simplifies molecular studies by separating the motions of nuclei and electrons. It describes how this approximation treats nuclei as stationary due to their greater mass, allowing for efficient computation of electronic states and molecular properties.
    • 9.2: Valence Bond Theory
      Valence bond theory describes bonding as a consequence of the overlap of two separate atomic orbitals on different atoms that creates a region with one pair of electrons shared between the two atoms. When the orbitals overlap along an axis containing the nuclei, they form a σ bond. When they overlap in a fashion that creates a node along this axis, they form a π bond.
    • 9.3: Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals
      Valence bond theory in its basic form fails to describe geometries of polyatomic molecules. This page describes the extension of valence bond theory with hybridized atomic orbitals to get better estimates of molecular geometry.
    • 9.4: Molecular Orbital Theory
      The positions and energies of electrons in molecules can be described in terms of molecular orbitals. A particular spatial distribution of electrons in a molecule that is associated with a particular orbital energy.—a spatial distribution of electrons in a molecule that is associated with a particular orbital energy. As the name suggests, molecular orbitals are not localized on a single atom but extend over the entire molecule. Hence, the molecular orbital approach is a delocalized approach.
    • 9.5: Diatomic Molecules With More Than s Orbitals
      This page extends the pictorial (qualitative) molecular orbital model to diatomic molecules with s and p valence electrons.
    • 9.6: Hückel MO Model of Conjugation
      This page discusses Hückel's theory as a method for approximating molecular orbital theory through the independent treatment of σ and π bonding in conjugated hydrocarbons like ethylene, highlighting sp² hybridization and unhybridized \(2p_z\) orbitals. It covers the calculation of π molecular orbital energies, focusing on Coulomb and resonance integrals to derive energy levels and molecular orbitals.
    • 9.7: Benzene and Aromaticity
      This page explains Hückel theory's application to cyclic conjugated hydrocarbons, focusing on benzene. It covers benzene's structure, resonance, and equal bond lengths, along with Hückel's Rule for cyclic polyenes possessing (4n+2) π electrons that exhibit aromaticity. The page highlights benzene's additional stability of \(15\, kJ\,mol^{-1}\) from double bond conjugation, supported by hydrogenation heat measurements, comparing its thermodynamic stability to other hydrocarbons.
    • 9.8: Numerical QM Methods
      This page provides brief descriptions of Hartree-Fock Self Consistent Field (HF-SCF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods of numerical quantum chemistry calculations. This is followed by an overview of the types of information available from these calculations.


    This page titled 9: Molecular Quantum Mechanics is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jonathan Gutow.