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Electronic Pol

The document discusses electronic polarization in atoms. When an electric field is applied, the centroid of an atom's electron cloud shifts from the nucleus, polarizing the atom. The distance the centroids are separated (x) depends on factors like the atom's charge (Z), radius (R), and the electric field strength (E) as shown in equation 6. An atom's polarizability (α) also depends on its radius and is directly proportional to the distance the centroids are separated for a given electric field, as shown in equation 8. The polarizability of atoms increases with their atomic number, with alkali metals having the highest polarizability due to their single outer electron being loosely bound.

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11 views

Electronic Pol

The document discusses electronic polarization in atoms. When an electric field is applied, the centroid of an atom's electron cloud shifts from the nucleus, polarizing the atom. The distance the centroids are separated (x) depends on factors like the atom's charge (Z), radius (R), and the electric field strength (E) as shown in equation 6. An atom's polarizability (α) also depends on its radius and is directly proportional to the distance the centroids are separated for a given electric field, as shown in equation 8. The polarizability of atoms increases with their atomic number, with alkali metals having the highest polarizability due to their single outer electron being loosely bound.

Uploaded by

Boateng Elvis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electronic polarisation

In a simple atomic model, a spherical electron cloud is assumed. Without electric


field, the centroids of the nucleus and the electronic cloud are the same. In case
of presence of electric field, the centroids are shifted therefore, the atom is
polarised.
The force due to the E electric field is

F = ZeE, (1)

where Z is the atomic number, e is the charge of an electron.


If the distance of centroids of the nucleus and the electronic cloud is x, the
restoration force is
Zeex
Fc = , (2)
4πε0 x2
where Ze is the charge of nucleus, while ex is the charge of the shifted electronic
cloud (fig.1).

Figure 1: Shifting of electronic cloud due to electric field

Assuming uniform electron distribution in the electronic cloud, ex is

Zex3
ex = , (3)
R3
where R is the atomic radius. Inserting eq. (3) in (2), the restoration force is

(Ze)2 x
Fc = . (4)
4πε0 R3
Since, the force due to electric field (eq. (1)) and the restoration force (eq. (4))
are equal:

(Ze)2 x
ZeE = , (5)
4πε0 R3
the distance between the centroids can be expressed:

1
4πε0 R3
x=
E. (6)
Ze
The dipole moment due to E field strength is:

me = Zex = 4πε0 R3 E. (7)

From (7), the polarisability of an atom can be expressed:


me
= 4πε0 R3 .
αe = (8)
E
By (8) the relationship between dielectric constant and the polarisability can
be calculated. If the dipole moment of an atom is αe E and N is the number of
atoms in a unit volume of the material, the dipole moment of a unit volume is
N αe E. Hence, the polarisation is:

P = N αe E. (9)

Changing the left hand side of eq. (9) by ε0 χE and inserting (8) in the right
hand side:
ε0 χE = ε0 (εr − 1)E = N 4πε0 R3 E (10)
is given. After rearranging, the dielectric constant can be calculated:

εr = 4πN R3 + 1. (11)

The polarisability of atoms in the function of atomic number is in Fig. 2.

100- POLARIZABILITY

Cs

iZr Luf
SrW»

C
g.\
;%NI ^a«
^Zn"!8
1 Ga» ; I
to
Isi ,, \ »SnTPb!Bi
AI
*\ ^el«.Sb* ^^

Kr

0.3-

0.1-1

Figure 2: The polarisability as a function of atomic number

As the figures shows the polarisability of noble gases is the lowest, while that
of is highest in case of alkali metals. This behaviour can be explained by the

2
electron configuration of atoms. The alkali metals have one loosely tightened
electron in the outermost orbit, while the outermost orbit of noble gases is filled.
The loosely tightened electron of alkali metals can easily shift due to electric
field.

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