Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Big Bang Theory



In trying to understand organic chemistry better so I can logically deduce organic reactions in a much more sane manner rather than hardcore memorising them I came across to understand the Big Bang Theory and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis.

To put it simply the theory states that our universe came from a simple primeval atom years years years ago. The theory is scientifically proven yes but how did that simple single point of primeval atom came about couldn't be explained.

Science boogles my mind. To be continued later while I read up more in the mean time. 

Add on:

I also realised why in filling up electrons 4s subshells are added on after 3d subshells. This has got to do with quantum mechanisms:

Now we know that there are quantum numbers n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ...
And that there are subshells (or angular momentum) l = 0, 1, 2, 3, ... (or we'd like to affectionately call them s, p, d, f)

Now according to some scientist with the quirky name Madelung he came up with this rule that electrons are filled in the order n+l ok so now before one spasm and die here's what it means:

You know the normal filling order is 1s,2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d right?

Here's why it's like this.

1s = 1+0 (this is n+l) = 1
2s = 2+0 = 2
2p = 2+1 = 3
3s = 3+0 = 3
3p = 3+1 = 4
4s = 4+0 = 4
3d = 3+2 = 5

Hope you see the pattern here and that it helps you as much as it'd help me score that fucking scholarship.



PS: Supposedly we don't have to care too much about g and onwards subshell because they are I suppose, too unstable for natural electrons to fill?

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