Chapter 5.2, Problem 18SSC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason for uncertainty in location of an electron needs to be explained using the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and de Broglie’s wave-particle duality. And how it is defined in atoms should be explained.

Concept introduction:

The quantum mechanical model of the atom treats the electron as wave-particle so, according to this model, electrons do not exist as a particle inside the atom but it surrounds the nucleus in a form of a cloud where the probability of finding the electron is high.

Explanation of Solution

According to de Broglie’s wave-particle duality, an electron has wave-particle characteristics that mean it possesses physical entities of both wave and a particle, and thus, there is no single definite location in space. According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, it is not possible to tell precisely both the position and the velocity of an electron at a time. Thus, there is the uncertainty of an electron velocity and position.

The location of the electron is defined by using a probability distribution.