edited by WALTERA . WOLF
chem ed compact/
E~senhowerCollege Seneca Fails. NY 13148
Molecular Term Symbols
Two Voyages of the Starship Chemterprise A. F. Leung Rubin Battino Wright State University Dayton. OH 45435
Department of Physics
S. P. So and Wai-kee Li Department of Chemistry
me Chinese University of
Hong Kong
Shatin. N.T., Hong Kong
analogies, I have prepared a paper using the popular "Star Trek" series to present two concepts. In the first voyage the starship (captained by James T. Quark) visits the planet of Bondonia. The natives are limited in various ways and an anthropological study leads to an understanding of how they form stable groups of "Molcools" by losing, gaining, or sharing detachable arms. Not only is chemical honding illuminated by these gentle folk (watch out for the "Berserkers" who spontaneously change or transmute), hut also principles of periodicity are illuminated. On the other hand, on the planet Quantolaria the natives illustrate the Aufbau principle and s p d f . That is, the "families" turn out to be formed under rules identical to the quantum rules. The paper has a complete text of the two voyages and is accompanied by drawings of the Bondonians and Quantolarians. My students find that the trips are both fun and factual. A copy of the paper is yours for the asking. (We can supply an accompanying set of color slides a t cost.)
Employing group-theoretical techniques, Ford [J. CHEM. E ~ u c .49,336 , (1972)l has given the explicit formulas for the derivation of molecular electronic states (term symhols) arising from configurations with one partially filled shell. These formulas are applicable to configurations with two to four (equivalent) electrons. Making the list complete, we give helow the formulas for five-electron systems. These recipes should be useful for molecules with high symmetry such as B I ~ H & (point group I,,). The notations are identical to those of Ford. Flue electrons, n = 5.
Volume 58
Number 5
May 1981
431
