High-Resolution Vibration-Rotation Spectroscopy of CO[subscript 2]: Understanding the Boltzmann Distribution

In this undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory experiment, students acquire a high-resolution infrared absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide and use their data to show that the rotational-vibrational state populations follow a Boltzmann distribution. Data are acquired with a mid-infrared laser...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of chemical education Vol. 84; no. 3; pp. 459 - 461
Main Author Castle, Karen J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society 01.03.2007
Subjects
Chemistry
College Science
Computer Software
Computer Uses in Education
Laboratory Experiments
Science Experiments
Science Instruction
Scientific Concepts
Simulation
Spectroscopy
Undergraduate Study
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Summary:In this undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory experiment, students acquire a high-resolution infrared absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide and use their data to show that the rotational-vibrational state populations follow a Boltzmann distribution. Data are acquired with a mid-infrared laser source and infrared detector. Appropriate absorption peak assignments are made by comparison of the experimental spectrum with the high-resolution transmission molecular absorption (HITRAN) database. Integrated absorption peak areas are used as a measure of relative rotational-vibrational state populations. The effect of temperature on the population distribution is explored by sampling the absorption spectrum at several different temperatures, giving students the opportunity to observe the properties of a Boltzmann distribution. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)
ISSN:0021-9584