#quantum chemistry

[noosphe-re]

Fig. 1: Framework of our quantum computational chemistry simulator

Fig. 2: Algorithm details for linear algebra routines Shang, H., Fan, Y., Shen, L. et al. Towards practical and massively parallel quantum computing emulation for quantum chemistry. npj Quantum Inf 9, 33 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-023-00696-7

[teet-swea]

So people say no dumb questions but

Can things chemically react in a vacuum? Like on their own.

Ok so with my not so great understanding

Chemical Reactions require a “reactors” thing which actually starts to r process, and as I know that’s usually friction

But in a vacuum

There’s like

NOTHING

PERIOD

What’s gonna start a reaction other than human interference

Air friction? THERE IS NONE.

If they boop accidentally each other then ye but that’s like the smallest amount of friction ever

Only the most volatile thingamajiggs would blow up because that

Right???

This is actually a really good question, and one that’s had me pondering for most of today, especially because it pertains to my research field!

We’ll define the vacuum as you’ve said. Just an empty infinite void where we just plop down our particles, each of which is in its lowest possible energy state. We’ll also go so far as to say that the “activation energy,” which is the energy needed to make the reaction happen is greater than the energy our hypothetical reacting particles have.

Based on these assumptions, you would imagine that my answer is no, they cannot react, and according to classical physics, you would be right; however, in the realm of chemistry, classical physics doesn’t quite cut it.

We need quantum mechanics

You see, it turns out that sometimes even really big walls can’t stop really determined particles from sneaking through them anyway. As a matter of fact, the amount of energy you’d need to completely prevent a particle from bypassing your barrier is infinite; any finite energy will not prevent the extremely rare occasions where something just passes through. This phenomenon is known as quantum tunneling, and chemists looking carefully into the stars have found spectroscopic evidence that there are reactions actively happening in space as a result of this.

So not only do we have theoretical support for this process, we have evidence that it’s actively occurring as we speak in the depths of space.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about anything here or anywhere feel free to ask!

[mindblowingscience]

Quantum Chemistry Happening Inside Your Eyes Protects Against Vision Loss

Every color, every flash, every sunray exacts a toll on the light-sensitive tissues at the back of our eyes, producing toxic materials that risk damaging the very cells that allow us to see.

Thankfully, the pigment responsible for darkening our hair, skin, and eyes moonlights as a clean-up crew, mopping up one such dangerous compound before it accumulates into damaging clumps.

An investigation by researchers from the University of Tübingen in Germany and Yale University has revealed the removal process is somewhat unusual as far as biochemistry goes, relying upon a strange quirk of quantum-like behavior.

Lining the back wall of our eyeball's inner surface is a shag-pile rug of light-reactive cells called the retina. Every fiber in this carpet is packed with pancake-like stacks of discs containing a crucial substance that catches photons of light, starting a chain of reactions that results in a nervous impulse the brain interprets as sight.

The very first step in this conversion process is a surprisingly dangerous one. The substance, called retinal, contorts into a shape that interferes with the cell's functions, effectively becoming a toxin.

Continue Reading

[flowergirlpunk]

just thought about how absolutely wild it is that I'm actually studying quantum mechanics right now. it sounds so surreal and tbh I didn't think I'd actually manage to do it

[im-somewhere-in-the-stratosphere]

I think today Im gonna attempt to go on a rant about how the Schrödinger equation implies a multiverse. Cause like. That has been stuck in my head since last night. And its cool.

[theholyskadoo]

imagine not being able to count

advanced humor

[thats-cantorintuitive]

@ chemblr can anyone properly explain me about the Slater type orbitals?

I have this theory: I know that the repulsive forces between electrons have been widely reasoned (in numerous research papers) to be causing the screening effect experienced by the electrons in the atom

But what if it wasn't? What if the shells in the Slater's themselves oriented in such a way to minimise the repulsions between the electrons that they seem to "enclose" ? I want to know if I can translate VSEPR theory and apply to this scenario? And if the orbitals within the groups that Slater had described had oriented to minimise repulsion (re: of course it isn't zero , but simply minimised ) to an extent that it could not significantly contribute to the screening effect?

But I need to understand the Slater type orbital functions properly in order to present my argument concretely

I'll just tag some of the stemblrs that I've been following for a while and the chemblrs that I know. Do help me out if you can, guys!

@notesbyash @chemblrish @hizerain @i-rationality @loopy-sucrose @chemcurie @roseinstem @sadcypher @bananamiii

[badger-with-a-boa]

The most science-nerdy thing I've done thus far was me absolutely losing it when I saw all the older books on biochemistry, pathology & quantum chemistry and physics...The tiny things of my special interests istg