Diatomic molecule, heat capacity vibrational energy

ISe. Classical Calculation of Heat Capacities.— For a diatomic molecule two types of rotation are possible, as seen above, contributing RT per mole to the energy. Since there are two atoms in the molecule, i.e., n is 2, there is only one mode of vibration, and the vibrational energy should be RT per mole. If the diatomic molecules rotate, but the atoms do not vibrate, the total energy content E will be the sum of the translational and rotational energies, i.e., RT + RT = RT, per mole hence,... 

SO that the heat capacity at constant volume should be about 5 cal. deg. mole The same result would be obtained if there is vibration of the atoms in the diatomic molecule, but no rotational motion. If, however, the molecule rotates and the atoms also vibrate, the energy content should be RT + RT + RT i.e., RTj per mole then... 

K the value of RT is approximately 2.5 kJ mol"1,) However Aevib is usually much greater than kT and under these circumstances vibrations do not contribute significantly to heat capacity (Fig. 9.7). Thus for nitrogen at room temperature the rotational contribution is approximately iiTand the vibrational contribution almost zero. Thus Cv 5/2)1 and y w 7/5 = 1.40 as opposed to the classical prediction of 1,29. For iodine the vibrational spacings are closer (Table 9.1) and we would predict y 1.29 in accord with the classical value. If the temperature is varied the heat capacity of a diatomic or polyatomic gas may show steps as the contributions from rotations and vibrations rise as the energy separations become comparable to kT, The positions of the steps depend on the moments of inertia and the vibrational frequencies of the molecules. 

---