Where, Oh Where, Is That Pesky Electron?

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 9 Issue 1 (2004) pp 20-23

Where, Oh Where, Is That Pesky Electron?

Carl W. David

Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3060, Carl.David@uconn.edu
Received July 2, 2003. Accepted September 9, 2003.

Published online: 24 January 2004

Abstract. Problems concerning the calculation of the probability of finding electrons in regions of space are discussed in the case of the H atom and H₂⁺ molecule cation. Because the problems with these molecules most often concern nuclei that are not at the origin, the details of expressing orbitals located at arbitrary points in space is addressed.

Key Words: In the Classroom; physical chemistry; quantum mechanics

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: Carl.David@uconn.edu)

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