8. AMMONIUM AND POTASSIUM

8

 AMMONIUM AND POTASSIUM

CHAPTER 8 - 4 pages - deals with the thermal stability of the potassium and ammonium ions.

7 DIAGONAL RELATIONSHIP

7

DIAGONAL RELATIONSHIP

In CHAPTER 7 - 4 pages - a new term has been introduced. This term has been illustrated with examples.

6 ATOMS, IONS, ENVIRONMENT AND REACTIVITY

6

ATOMS, IONS, ENVIRONMENT AND REACTIVITY

CHAPTER 6 - 25 pages - is an important one. Among other things, the effects of various factors such as charge density, lattice, electro-negativity difference, polarizability, size on rate of reaction have been illustrated. The chapter ends with a new but important generalization.

5 ALUMINIUM FLUORIDE

5

ALUMINIUM FLUORIDE

CHAPTER 5 - 4 pages - deals with AlF₃. This can be included in chapter 16. However, due to its very high melting point, a separate chapter has been allotted to it. Further, this chapter is a prelude to chapter 6.

4. CALCIUM CHLORIDE

4

 CALCIUM CHLORIDE

CHAPTER 4 (5 pages) deals with the Structure of CaCl₂ molecule (not solid CaCl₂) with reference to the structures of BeCl₂ (linear) and BaCl₂ (bent chain) molecules. It gives an insight into the merits and limitations of the hybridization theory and the VSEPR theory. It is a unique approach.

3. THE COVALENT BOND

3

THE COVALENT BOND

In CHAPTER 3 (20 pages) the basis for the balloon picture of the hybridized orbital, the distinction between non –bonding orbitals and lone pair electrons, the meaning of the multi-centric molecular orbitals and the reason why the act of depositing two electrons in the inter-nuclear region leads to lowering of energy are vividly discussed.

Works of D.R. Herchbach, Y.T. Lee and J.C. Palanzc (1986) and the experiment conducted by Ahmed H. Zewail at the California Institute of Technology (1998) also are given. It is a very useful chapter for those who study or handle Valence Bond Theory and Molecular Orbital Theory. About 50 percent of this chapter is conventional but style somewhat different. The rest cannot be found in any other book.

2. MOLECULAR ORBITALS

2

MOLECULAR ORBITALS

CHAPTER 2 (2 pages) is to emphasize the importance of the pairing of the spins of the electrons.

1. ATOMIC STRUCTURE

1

ATOMIC STRUCTURE

CHAPTER 1(37 pages) starts with Democritus and proceeds chronologically through ‘hard’ atom model and ‘soft’ atom model. This chapter ends with Hofstadter and Murry Gell Mann. It is a non-mathematical treatment. The points familiar to the readers such as Pauli exclusion principle are ignored. But the statements of prominent scientists and several comparisons - such as “The atom changes its shape constantly. At one time it looks like an egg which is oval in shape and at another time it looks like an omelette which is flat.” - are given. The readers would love to remember them.

However, the meaning of Planck constant, the similarity between matrix mechanics and wave mechanics, symmetry of the orbitals, physical meaning + and – signs of the wave function and the reason for the stability of the octet configuration are explained in words.

Experiment conducted by Daniel Walls and his colleagues at University of Auckland (1991) to demolish the argument of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) is given. The experiment conducted by David Pritchard from the Massachysetts Institute of Technology to isolate an atom and the experiment of Stephen Chn to trap atom (1986) are given.

Further, there is an elementary treatment of quarks and leptons (7 pages) and the nature of forces. The limitation of the Standard Model also is discussed.

There is no comparison for this chapter in any other book. The readers will be immensely benefitted by this chapter.