A satisfactory spin wave function for an excited helium atom is · ABC26PH1313
Subject: Physical Chemistry · Chapter: Quantum Chemistry · Topic: Angular Momentum · Exam: CSIR NET JUNE 2016 · Marks: 2 · Difficulty: Easy
A satisfactory spin wave function for an excited helium atom is
(a)$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}[\alpha(1)\beta(2)+\alpha(2)\beta(1)]$
(b)$\alpha(1)\beta(2)$
(c)$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}[\alpha(1)\alpha(2)+\beta(1)\beta(2)]$
(d)$\alpha(2)\beta(1)$
Answer
Answer: A ✓ checked by 4AB · confidence high
The source book printed no answer; this one was worked out and checked — see the explanation.
Explanation
An acceptable two-electron spin function must treat both electrons equivalently and be an Sz eigenfunction: (1/√2)[α(1)β(2) + α(2)β(1)] (a).
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