CH2101

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Spectroscopy and KineticsSpectroscopy

The Nature of LightLight acts as both a wave; having a wavelength and frequency

and a particle; delivers ‘packets’ of energy, protons

This is described as a wave-particle duality

Some basic equations regarding light;

-Wavelength;



Symbol is lambda, λ



Measured in metres, micrometres (1µm=10

-6

m) or nanometres (1nm=10

-9



Visible light has a wavelength between 400nm-700nm-Frequency;

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Symbol is nu,



Units are s

-1

Frequency and wavelength are linked by;Frequency=Speed/Wavelength

ν =c/ λ

In a vacuum c, the speed of light=2.988x10

-1

-Energy

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Given the symbol, E

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Units most commonly used are Joules, JEnergy and frequency are linked by;

Energy=Planck’s constant x Frequency

E=h ν

Where Planck’s Constant, h=6.626x10

-34

If the energy of a photon, E, is calculated to be larger than the bond enthalpy of a given bond, that photon of light could successfully break the bond.-Wave Numbers



Symbol given is



Units are m

-1

or cm

-1

is directly proportional to ν since

=1/λ

Therefore

ν=c/λ=cAlso, since E=h/ λ

E=hcThe interaction of light with matter can be sorted into two groups;-no exchange of energy leading to diffraction-exchange of energy leading to

spectroscopy

Diffraction

-causes an interference in phases-two types occur;In-phase waves creating constructive interference and out-of-phase waves leading to destructive interference;combinedwaveformwave 1wave 2two waves in phase two waves out of phaseThis is the basis of x-ray crystallography;

If the two incoming waves, λ

and λ

, have the same wavelength then the lower wave will travel the samedistance as the upper, plus 2d. If this distance corresponds to a whole, integer, number of wavelengths thenthe waves will re-emerge in-phase with each other, leading to constructive interference. If it corresponds to anon-whole number of wavelengths they will be out-of-phase upon detection and cancel each other out.This leads to the Bragg equation;

=2dsin

Diffraction of Matter1920

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Davison and Gerner attempted to find the spacing of atoms by firing electrons at a nickel foil; electronswere diffracted meaning they must also have wave-particle duality behaviour-it is also possible to diffract small elements such as hydrogen and heliumThe de Broglie relationship links particle and wave behaviour by showing every particle has a wavelength;

Wavelength= Planck’s Constant/ Momentum

λ=h/

where momentum=mass x speed,