Quantum mechanics -- explanation of exothermic reactions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of exothermic reactions, specifically focusing on the microscopic mechanisms behind heat release during bond formation. Participants explore the nature of energy changes at a molecular level without delving into mathematical explanations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the relationship between bond formation and heat release, seeking a conceptual understanding rather than a mathematical explanation.
  • Another participant mentions "overlap/exchange integrals" in response to the initial inquiry, although the relevance of this term is unclear to others.
  • Some participants express frustration over the inability to provide a non-mathematical explanation for why energy is released during bond formation.
  • There is a challenge regarding the expectation of intuitive explanations without mathematical backing, with one participant asserting that such explanations may not be feasible.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether it is possible to explain the energy release during bond formation without resorting to mathematics. There is a clear disagreement on the approach to explaining the concept.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express limitations in conveying complex concepts without mathematical language, indicating a potential gap in understanding the underlying principles of exothermic reactions.

Andrew1955
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Hi, I am wondering about latent heat release when water freezes but it seems best to start with a regular exothermic reaction. How does bond formation create heat? What is actually happening at the microscopic level so that these combining particles are capable of causing adjacent molecules to become hotter? I am not wanting a maths answer but rather a thought experiment approach to the answer that considers what is happening microscopically. Thanks
 
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Andrew1955 said:
Hi, I am wondering about latent heat release when water freezes but it seems best to start with a regular exothermic reaction. How does bond formation create heat? What is actually happening at the microscopic level so that these combining particles are capable of causing adjacent molecules to become hotter? I am not wanting a maths answer but rather a thought experiment approach to the answer that considers what is happening microscopically. Thanks
"I don't want math." Overlap/exchange integrals.
 
Bystander said:
"I don't want math." Overlap/exchange integrals.

Sorry I have no idea what that comment is telling me.
 
Andrew1955 said:
Sorry I have no idea what that comment is telling me.
You have stated that you do not want any math; if you Google "overlap/exchange integral(s)"-"math", you'll get nothing but math. Do not request that we appeal to your intuition(s), or that we appease your intuition(s), because it simply will not happen on PF.
 
Bystander said:
You have stated that you do not want any math; if you Google "overlap/exchange integral(s)"-"math", you'll get nothing but math. Do not request that we appeal to your intuition(s), or that we appease your intuition(s), because it simply will not happen on PF.

Are you telling me it is impossible to explain in words why energy is released when a chemical bond is formed? I thought maths was a shorthand way of describing something that could in principle be described in words?
 

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