Question

What is the qualitative difference between molecular energy levels and atomic energy levels. Be as descriptive as possible. Thank you.

Answer 1

A quantum mechanical system or particle that is bound—that is, confined spatially—can only take on certain discrete values of energy, called energy levels. This contrasts with classical particles, which can have any amount of energy. The term is commonly used for the energy levels of electrons in atoms, ions, or molecules, which are bound by the electric field of the nucleus, but can also refer to energy levels of nuclei or vibrational or rotational energy levels in molecules. The energy spectrum of a system with such discrete energy levels is said to be quantized.

molecular energy levels :- Energy can be stored either as potential energy or kinetic energy, in a variety of ways including • Translational energy: small amounts of energy stored as kinetic energy.

• Rotational energy: kinetic energy associated with the rotational motion of molecules.

• Vibrational energy: the oscillatory motion of atoms or groups of atoms within a molecule (potential energy ↔ kinetic energy exchange).

• Electronic energy: energy stored as potential energy in excited electronic configurations.

atomic energy levels :- nergy levels (also called electron shells) are fixed distances from the nucleus of an atom where electrons may be found. As you go farther from the nucleus, electrons at higher energy levels have more energy. ... Electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom are called valence electrons.