Convenient Chemical Symbols to Illustrate Electronic Excited States |
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| Authors: | Evguenii I. Kozliak |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry , University of North Dakota , Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA ekozliak@chem.und.edu |
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| Abstract: | The problem of poor comprehension of electronic spectra by chemistry students in upper level undergraduate classes is addressed by consistent application of vector addition to both spin and angular momentum. Using the upgraded box‐and‐arrow diagrams, both atomic and molecular electronic states may be described without the use of advanced mathematics. Simple chemical symbols and formulas are suggested for molecular excited states that complement the existing physical/mathematical notation. Elements of a suitable classroom presentation are presented. |
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| Keywords: | Electronic spectra spectroscopy term symbols spin student learning |
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