- #1
Amerez
- 22
- 0
My understanding of the atomic structure is that electrons can gain energy in quantas, so that's why we have orbitals with sharply defined energy around the nucleus.
One would logically think that every atom of the same element has the exact same orbitals with the exact same energy of orbital as the next atom, but as it turns out similar orbitals differ slightly from atom to atom. That's why when atoms join to form a lattice the orbitals join each other, get dense and form a band not a single big orbital.
So, why do similar orbitals in different atoms of the lattice have slightly different energy?
One would logically think that every atom of the same element has the exact same orbitals with the exact same energy of orbital as the next atom, but as it turns out similar orbitals differ slightly from atom to atom. That's why when atoms join to form a lattice the orbitals join each other, get dense and form a band not a single big orbital.
So, why do similar orbitals in different atoms of the lattice have slightly different energy?