Electrodynamics and chemistry empirical formula

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and the empirical determination of chemical formulas. Participants explore whether physical principles can predict chemical reactions based on the properties of elements, particularly in the context of large numbers of atoms involved in reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that chemistry textbooks state the ratio of elements in a compound can only be determined experimentally, questioning the predictive power of electrodynamics in this context.
  • Another participant suggests that while predicting reactions for a few atoms or molecules might be feasible, the complexity increases significantly with the vast number of atoms involved in typical reactions.
  • There are repeated inquiries about how to express chemical reactions, such as the formation of sodium chloride, in physical terms.
  • A participant proposes that physical laws could predict atomic reactions based on their electric properties.
  • In response, another participant mentions quantum mechanics as a framework that describes chemical bonding through the overlap of wave functions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the ability of physical laws to predict chemical reactions, with some suggesting that quantum mechanics provides a basis for understanding bonding, while others emphasize the challenges posed by the scale of reactions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in predicting chemical behavior based solely on physical properties, particularly regarding the complexity of interactions in large systems and the reliance on empirical data.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying chemistry, physics, or materials science, particularly in understanding the interplay between theoretical predictions and empirical observations in chemical reactions.

madah12
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In my chemistry textbook it says that the only way to get the ratio between the elements in a compound is by experimental means ,so I was wondering why isn't the physical knowledge of electrodynamics able to predict the reaction given the properties of the elements?
 
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Given a few atoms or molecules, I believe it can. However most reactions use enormous numbers of atoms and molecules, and trying to calculate every single one of these all at once is extremely difficult and time consuming, if even possible.
 
so how to express the fact that 2Na + Cl_2 ==> 2NaCl
in physics?
 
madah12 said:
so how to express the fact that 2Na + Cl_2 ==> 2NaCl
in physics?

I think you just did.

The problem, i think, is that you have 1x10^25 of those reactions to take into account. Thats quite a bit of work...

I'm not 100% sure of what you are asking anymore honestly. Could you be a little more specific about your question?
 
are there physical laws that would predict how atoms of elements would react based only on their electric properties?
 
yes its called Quantum mechanics , when their wave functions overlap you get chemical bonding.
 

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