Statistical thermodynamics rotational energy

Statistical Thermodynamics of Adsorbates. First, from a thermodynamic or statistical mechanical point of view, the internal energy and entropy of a molecule should be different in the adsorbed state from that in the gaseous state. This is quite apart from the energy of the adsorption bond itself or the entropy associated with confining a molecule to the interfacial region. It is clear, for example, that the adsorbed molecule may lose part or all of its freedom to rotate. 

The thermophysical properties necessary for the growth of tetrahedral bonded films could be estimated with a thermal statistical model. These properties include the thermodynamic sensible properties, such as chemical potential /t, Gibbs free energy G, enthalpy H, heat capacity Cp, and entropy S. Such a model could use statistical thermodynamic expressions allowing for translational, rotational, and vibrational motions of the atom. 

To relate these thermodynamic quantities to molecular properties and interactions, we need to consider the statistical thermodynamics of ideal gases and ideal solutions. A detailed discussion is beyond the scope of this review. We note for completeness, however, that a full treatment of the free energy of solvation should include the changes in the rotational and vibrational partition functions for the solute as it passes from the gas phase into solution, AGjnt. ... 

Data analysis options include the preparation of isoenergy contour maps (CMAPS), linear energy vs. rotation angle plots (LINPLOT) and tables of local energy minima, statistical thermodynamic probabilities, and entropy terms to enable the reporting of "free" energies in addition to "conformational" energies. 

To simplify notation for these two terms let 2f0[G3(MP2)] s E0 and G3MP2 Enthalpy = //29g. The thermal correction to the enthalpy (TCH), converting energy at 0 K to enthalpy at 298, (H29% -E0 = -78.430772-(—78.4347736) = 0.0040016 h) is a composite of two classical statistical thermodynamic enthalpy changes for translation and rotation, and a quantum harmonic oscillator term for the vibrational energy. 

The equilibrium constants Kf are not measurable and we must resort to statistical thermodynamics to estimate these values theoretically. The partition function (Q) is a quantity with no simple physical significance but it may be substituted for concentrations in the calculation of equilibrium constants (Eqns. 4 and 5) [5], (It is assumed that there is no isotopic substitution in B.) Partition functions may be expressed as the product of contributions to the total energy from translational, rotational and vibrational motion (Eqn. 6). 

From elementary statistical thermodynamics we know that the equilibrium constant can be written in terms of the partition functions of the individual molecules taking part in a reaction. These quantities represent the sum over all energy states in the system—translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic. The probability that a molecule will be in a particular energy state, f ,-, is given by the Boltzmann law,... 

Quantum chemistry applies quantum mechanics to problems in chemistry. The influence of quantum chemistry is evident in all branches of chemistry. Physical chemists use quantum mechanics to calculate (with the aid of statistical mechanics) thermodynamic properties (for example, entropy, heat capacity) of gases to interpret molecular spectra, thereby allowing experimental determination of molecular properties (for example, bond lengths and bond angles, dipole moments, barriers to internal rotation, energy differences between conformational isomers) to calculate molecular properties theoretically to calculate properties of transition states in chemical reactions, thereby allowing estimation of rate constants to understand intermolecular forces and to deal with bonding in solids. 

The internal partition function for molecules having inversion may be factored, to a good approximation, into overall rotational and vibrational partition functions. Although inversion tunnelling results in a splitting of rotational energy levels, the statistical weights are such that the classical formulae for rotational contributions to thermodynamic functions may be used. The appropriate symmetry number depends on the procedure used to calculate the vibrational partition function. 

We have seen how statistical thermodynamics can be applied to systems composed of particles that are more than just a single atom. By applying the partition function concept to electronic, nuclear, vibrational, and rotational energy levels, we were able to determine expressions for the thermodynamic properties of molecules in the gas phase. We were also able to see how statistical thermodynamics applies to chemical reactions, and we found that the concept of an equilibrium constant presents itself in a natural way. Finally, we saw how some statistical thermodynamics is applied to solid systems. Two similar applications of statistical thermodynamics to crystals were presented. Of the two, Einstein s might be easier to follow and introduced some new concepts (like the law of corresponding states), but Debye s agrees better with experimental data. 

A quite different approach is adopted in the statistical mechanical theory expounded by Gibbs and DiMarzio. They considered that the rotating unit could exist in two stable conformations (which might correspond to the trans and gauche conformers discussed earher), separated by a standard state energy difference, AE°, called the flex energy. Using the techniques of statistical thermodynamics, they calculated the partition of the units between these two forms. In theory, the... 

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