Can hydrogen atoms with same electron spin combine?

MrBrown90

Paulis exclusion principle say that two electrons around a nucleus can't have the same quantum number. Does that mean that, say, two hydrogen atoms with electrons with the same spin can't make hydrogen gas? Or does one of the electrons change its spin?

ZapperZ

This is what we know as the bonding and antibonding orbitals.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...cule/hmol.html

Please note that question such as this is not a "high energy physics/nuclear physics" question. Your question has been moved to the appropriate forum.

Zz.

DrDu

In deed spin polarized hydrogen atoms have a very small probability to recombine (which is only possible due to the very weak spin spin interactions between electron and nuclear spin).

MrBrown90

Thanks! That cleared it up for me