Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 40 - One-Dimensional Quantum Mechanics - Exercises and Problems - Page 1214: 32

Answer

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Work Step by Step

To calculate the first three vibrational energy levels of a $$\rm{C=O} $$ carbon-oxygen double bond using the data from the figure (which shows the absorption spectrum of acetone), we need to use the wavelength corresponding to the vibrational transition and the basic concepts of vibrational energy levels. The molecule is described as a quantum harmonic oscillator, meaning its energy levels are given by $$ E_n = \left(n - \frac{1}{2}\right)\hbar \omega\tag 1 $$ We look at the energy of the first three levels: $ E_1 $, $ E_2 $, and $ E_3 $. The absorption occurs because a photon is absorbed, causing a transition between two energy levels (from $ n=1 $ to $ n=2 $). The energy of the absorbed photon is given by $$ E_{\text{photon}} = hf = \frac{hc}{\lambda}\tag 2 $$ where, from the mentioned graph, we can see that $\lambda = 5.75 \; \rm{\mu m} $. The difference in energy between the two levels is given by $$ \Delta E = E_2 - E_1 =E_{\text{photon}}$$ $$ E_{\text{photon}}= \left(2 - \frac{1}{2}\right)\hbar \omega-\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right)\hbar \omega=\hbar\omega $$ Plug from (2); $$ \frac{hc}{\lambda}=\hbar\omega$$ where $\hbar=h/2\pi$ $$\frac{\color{red}{\bf\not} hc}{\lambda}= \dfrac{\color{red}{\bf\not} h}{2\pi}\omega $$ Thus, $$\omega=\frac{2\pi c}{\lambda}\tag 3$$ Plug into (1); $$ E_n = \left(n - \frac{1}{2}\right)\frac{2\pi \hbar c}{\lambda} = \left(n -\frac{1}{2}\right)\frac{2\pi h c}{2\pi \lambda}$$ $$E_n = \dfrac{ \left(n - \frac{1}{2}\right) h c}{ \lambda} $$ Thus, $$ E_1 = \dfrac{ \left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) (6.63\times 10^{-34})(3\times 10^8)}{ (5.75\times 10^{-6})}=\bf 1.73\times10^{-20}\;\rm J\\\;\\\;\\ E_1 =\color{red}{\bf 0.108 }\;\rm eV $$ $$ E_2 = \dfrac{ \left(2 - \frac{1}{2}\right) (6.63\times 10^{-34})(3\times 10^8)}{ (5.75\times 10^{-6})}=\bf 5.19\times10^{-20}\;\rm J\\\;\\\;\\ E_2 =\color{red}{\bf 0.324}\;\rm eV $$ $$ E_3 = \dfrac{ \left(3 - \frac{1}{2}\right) (6.63\times 10^{-34})(3\times 10^8)}{ (5.75\times 10^{-6})}=\bf 8.65\times10^{-20}\;\rm J\\\;\\\;\\ E_3 =\color{red}{\bf 0.540}\;\rm eV $$
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