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This periodic table shows the Atomic elements by superimposing, in a visual sense, the probability orbitals of the quantum Schrodinger Equations. The oribtals represent the probability of finding an electron at a given location in space. The solutions for a single electron are known, but those for many atoms are currently intractable. Thus, only the Hydrogen atom and its isotopes (1 electron) can be solved directly. For all the other atoms, with multiple electrons, there are no analytical solutions and expensive computations are needed to solve even the simplest cases.
Atoms are incredibly complex. This Quantum Periodic Table of the Elements presents a visual simplification of the quantum world by combining many single-images of electron orbitals. The orbitals for each eletron in a given atom are imaged, colored, and superimposed, thus creating a more complex picture of the atoms. While this image is therefore not a truly accurate model of the atoms, since the computations are currently not possible, this perodic table is better than the Classical picture of atom with circular orbits - a model which is now known to be incorrect.
The Quantum Periodic Table is therefore the most complex picture of the atom currently possible, and only just begins to reveal the complexity of the sub-atomic world. |
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