Every
molecular system has an energy associated with it. This energy might
show a shift depending on the surrounding environment or internal
variations. Magnetic dipoles present in a molecular system in the
form of electrons and the nuclei is one such reason for the
energy shift. But the effect of these magnetic dipoles on the energy
shifts will be much less which can be accounted by considering
perturbation theory. Chemical binding energies on the other hand are
responsible for the major shifts in energy of a molecular system.
Thus the focus is shifted towards the valence electrons responsible
for most of the chemical activity of a molecule. The valence
electrons are separated from the core electrons. The core electrons
are treated approximately. This reduces the efforts of considering
the relativistic effects affecting the core electrons, and thus can now be
ignored.
What
are relativistic effect?
It
has been nicely explained by Ermler and Pitzer in the introduction of
their review on Relativisitic effects on chemical systems in Annual
Review of Physical Chemistry (1985). As explained by them, velocity
of light c is finite. But theoretical calculations often make the
approximation of considering it to be ∞. This approximation works
for light atoms like H,C,N,O. But for heavy elements, this non
relativistic approximation of considering c as ∞ doesn't hold.
Thus the relativistic effects are the differences between
calculation for the correct value of the velocity of light and the
results for c= ∞. This can be taken care of for c=∞ by working
with Dirac equation yielding electron spin, or by supplementing the
Schrodinger equation with an ad hoc assumption about spin.
The
non relativistic Schrondinger equation without magnetic effects can
then be used to obtain the structure and reactivity of molecular
systems and systems in Solid state.
While
the time independent Schrodinger equation is sufficient for the
structure characterization of a molecular system, its interaction
with electromagnetic radiation requires time dependent Schrodinger
equation.
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