Symmetry and Spectroscopy: An Introduction to Vibrational and Electronic Spectroscopy (Dover Books on Chemistry)

"The authors use an informal but highly effective writing style to present a uniform and consistent treatment of the subject matter." Journal of Chemical Education . The primary focus of this text is to introduce students to vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, presenting applications of group theory to the interpretation of UV, visible, and infrared spectra without assuming a high level of background knowledge. The text is divided into five chapters that address the fundamentals of group theory, qualitative aspects of quantum mechanics, vibrational spectroscopy, molecular orbital theory, and electronic spectroscopy. To make the exposition clear and meaningful, each new concept is applied or illustrated with experimental results as quickly as possible. In addition, each chapter features a large number of relevant problems through which students can test their understanding of text material. These problems are an integral part of the text and sometimes introduce new material. Solutions to the problems (often accompanied by detailed explanations) can be found in an appendix. Carefully written to provide a solid foundation in spectroscopic analysis, the book devotes significant attention to the interpretation and significance of vibrational and electronic spectra, including good introductory material on Raman and photo-electron spectroscopy, vibronic analysis, and transition metal complexes. Moreover, many of the concepts presented clearly here can be easily extended to studies in other fields of chemistry. Also included are numerous helpful figures and line drawings illustrating important concepts. Table of Contents Opening Remarks A chemists view of group thery Introduction Symmetry Operations and Molecules Groups Point Groups Classification of Molecules into Point Groups Matrix Representation of Symmetry Operations Characters and Character Tables Decomposition of Reducible Representations and the Direct Product Additional Problems Related Reading A skirmish with quantum mechanics Introduction Light The Postulates of Quantum Mechanics Some Simple Illustrations from Quantum Mechanics Related Reading Vibrational spectroscopy Introduction Infrared and Raman Spectra Diatomic Molecules Transitions between Stationary States The Normal Modes of Vibration of Polyatomic Molecules Selection Rules and Polarization Symmetry Coordinates and Normal Modes Stretching Mode Analysis Assignment of Real Spectra The Resonance Raman Effec Functional Group Analysis Additional Problems Related Reading Molecular orbital theory Introduction Atoms Photoelectron Spectroscopy The LCAO Molecular Orbital Method Diatomic Molecules Polyatomic Molecules The Huckel Method Transition Metal Complexes Additional Problems Related Reading Electronic spectroscopy Introduction Another Look at Molecular Vibrations Basic Notions Selection Rules The Electronic Spectra of Some Diatomic Molecules The Fate of Absorbed Energy Single Bonds, Double Bonds, and Lone Pairs Vibronic Analysis Transition Metal Complexes Concluding Remarks Additional Problems Related Reading Appendices A. Character tables B. Direct products C. Overtones of degenerate vibrations D. The shapes of atomic orbitals E. Physical constants F. Energy conversions G. Answers to problems Index Informal, effective undergraduate-level text introduces vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, presenting applications of group theory to the interpretation of UV, visible, and infrared spectra without assuming a high level of background knowledge. 200 problems with solutions. Numerous illustrations. A uniform and consistent treatment of the subject matter. - Journal of Chemical Education.