Why Do Electrons Have Discrete Energy Levels?

You’ll understand by the end of this video, but I need to take you on a brief tour of physics first. I explain the Schrödinger equation without complicated math.
Time Stamps:
0:00 Free vs Bound Electrons
0:21 Rainbows (Discrete Energy in Photons)
1:26 Atomic Orbitals & Energy Levels
2:09 Schrödinger Equation
2:53 Wave-Particle Duality
4:22 Constructive vs Destructive Interference
5:27 Discrete Energy Levels Explained (de Broglie's Condition)
Citations:
This video is based on information found in chapter 6 of OpenStax Chemistry 2e. OpenStax publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed, free online textbooks. Seriously:
Flowers, P., Theopold, K., Langley, R., & Robinson, W.R. (2019, Feb 14). Chemistry 2e. OpenStax. openstax.org/details/books/ch...
pg. 295, Figure 6.13 Compare the two types of emission spectra: continuous spectrum of white light (top) and the line
spectra of the light from excited sodium, hydrogen, calcium, and mercury atoms. Continuous spectrum and emission spectrum of calcium were used to show continuous and discrete spectra of a rainbow.
pg 308, Figure 6.21 Shapes of s, p, d, and f orbitals.
Layout and color scheme changed, but information is unchanged.
pg 309, Figure 6.22 The chart shows the energies of electron orbitals in a multi-electron atom.
Layout and color scheme changed, but information is unchanged.
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#ChemistryEducation #Atom #Electrons

[@skybluskyblueify]

Awesome explanation there at the end. Now I get it years after taking chemistry/physics.

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Thank you! I wish I had time to go into this much detail when teaching actual classes, but time is always so limited.

[@reasonerenlightened2456]

​@@ChemistryinaNutshell 1) why would an electron "wiggle" along a trajectory around the nucleus? 2) How come a wave "interferes" with itself? Don't we need two waves minimum to allow use of a word like "interference"?

[@jzea5605]

Its been 15 years since I used my tertiary Chemistry, so long I have forgotten basic Chemistry ... Im inspired to come back, but I came here because I'm learning to use Lightboards and just watched your video from a few months prior about your possible upgrades... looks like you did that because the video is looking fantastic now. Great work!!!

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Thank you! Insanely bright lights to illuminate me made the biggest difference in video quality. I'm glad you noticed. :-)

[@ontologicalshock]

Wow, I loved your explanation of why electrons have discrete energy levels! I learned about the concept of constructive and destructive interference patterns for the first time this year and it completely blew my mind, because of how applicable it was to just about anything I could think about, and your explanation for how it applies to the electron really made the idea of discrete energy levels "click" in my mind. I'm a physics newbie, but your explanation helped me make sense of such a concept. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and helping to make such an idea more clear! Having it visualized helped me more than just looking at the math associated with such physics concepts.

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm glad I could help!

[@bormell119]

Great explanation! keep it up

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Thanks, will do!

[@HimanshuSharma-ir3is]

Beautifully explained. De Broglie wavelength is the simplest answer to this complex question. However it seems baffling to perceive electron a wave as well as a particle. Please make a video on how we visualise an atom, as of now. On how we visualise the nucleus and electrons around it exist- considering the dual nature of them.

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Thanks for your comment! 😁The closest video that I currently have to your atom visualization suggestion is this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGTPhHWApaxsp7c It may take some time to create a video that incorporates the duality of particles.

[@germanlungwitz528]

Great explanation

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

I'm happy to hear that! Thanks for watching!

[@RahulAhire]

I read quantum by Manjit Kumar and now I exactly understand what "quantised" actually is. Thanks for the brilliant and thoughtful demo. On a side note, just as a thought experiment I wanted to know what will it take to make electron follow that 1/2 path to annihilate itself?

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Thank you! As for the thought experiment, I think of it as if any electrons that follow the half path are annihilated and can't exist.

[@henrywasserman]

Nice job explaining complex problems to a dummy like myself.

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

I'm glad I could make it clear! No one's a dummy when they're learning!

[@user-dx1hx2wt4v]

I think I am on the wrong video as I am 11th grade student😅

[@ChemistryinaNutshell]

Nah, welcome. Come learn something new and then go run circles around your classmates.🙃

[@user-dx1hx2wt4v]

@@ChemistryinaNutshell sure