In quantum chemistry, a wave function is a mathematical function that describes the state of a particle, such as an electron in an atom or molecule.
Think of it as a “map” that contains all the information about the particle.
Key points:
- The wave function is usually written as Ψ (psi).
- It doesn’t directly give us the position of the particle. Instead, Ψ² (psi squared) tells us the probability of finding the particle at a certain place.
- It can also describe other properties like energy, momentum, or spin.
Why it’s important in chemistry:
- Wave functions explain how electrons are arranged in atoms and molecules.
- They are used to understand chemical bonds, molecular shapes, and reactions.
- Quantum chemistry calculations (like molecular orbital theory) are based on wave functions.
In short: A wave function is the “heart” of quantum mechanics, giving us the probability picture of where particles like electrons are likely to be.