What is the relation between wave number of IR absorption and the redu...
, frequency is directly proportional to wave number. So, wave number is inversely proportional to reduced mass as shown in the above relation.
What is the relation between wave number of IR absorption and the redu...
The relation between wave number of IR absorption and the reduced mass can be understood by considering the basic principles of molecular vibrations and the mathematical expression for the wave number.
1. Understanding Molecular Vibrations:
Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy is a technique used to study the vibrational motion of molecules. Molecules can vibrate in different ways, such as stretching, bending, and twisting. These vibrations correspond to different energy levels, and when a molecule absorbs infrared radiation, it undergoes a transition from one vibrational level to another.
2. The Wave Number:
The wave number (ν) is a characteristic parameter used in IR spectroscopy to describe the energy of the absorbed radiation. It is defined as the reciprocal of the wavelength (λ) and is expressed in units of reciprocal centimeters (cm^-1). The wave number is directly proportional to the energy of the absorbed radiation.
3. The Reduced Mass:
The reduced mass (μ) is a concept used in quantum mechanics to describe the effective mass of a system of two or more particles. It takes into account the masses of the individual particles and their relative motion. The reduced mass is inversely proportional to the square root of the total mass of the system.
4. The Relation Between Wave Number and Reduced Mass:
The wave number of an IR absorption is inversely proportional to the reduced mass of the vibrating system. This can be explained by considering the mathematical expression for the wave number:
ν = (1/2πc) * √(k/μ)
Where ν is the wave number, c is the speed of light, k is the force constant of the bond, and μ is the reduced mass.
From this equation, we can see that the wave number is inversely proportional to the square root of the reduced mass. As the reduced mass increases, the square root term decreases, leading to a decrease in the wave number. Conversely, as the reduced mass decreases, the square root term increases, resulting in an increase in the wave number.
Therefore, the correct answer is option B: Wave number is inversely proportional to the reduced mass. This relationship holds true for molecular vibrations in IR spectroscopy.