What is the Difference Between Electronic Rotational and Vibrational Transition?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between electronic, rotational, and vibrational transitions lies in the type of energy change occurring within a molecule. Here's a summary of each type of transition:
- Electronic Transitions:
- Occur between different electronic states of a molecule.
- Involve changes in the arrangement of electrons in the molecule.
- Typically result in the absorption or emission of light.
- These transitions are vertical or almost vertical lines on a plot.
- Vibrational Transitions:
- Occur between different vibrational levels of the same electronic state.
- Involve changes in the bond length and/or bond angle of the molecule.
- Generally result from the absorption or emission of heat (infrared radiation) rather than light.
- This type of transition is often evaluated using Raman spectroscopy.
- Rotational Transitions:
- Occur mostly between rotational levels of the same vibrational state.
- Involve changes in the orientation of the molecule in space.
- These transitions can also result from the absorption or emission of microwave radiation.
- Each vibrational level has a set of rotational levels associated with it.
In some cases, combination vibration-rotation transitions can occur for light molecules. Additionally, electronic transitions tend to accompany both rotational and vibrational transitions, but they are not dependent on rotational or vibrational terms.
Comparative Table: Electronic Rotational vs Vibrational Transition
The key difference between electronic, rotational, and vibrational transitions lies in the nature of the energy changes and the associated spectroscopic properties. Here is a comparison between electronic rotational and vibrational transitions:
| Transition Type | Description | Energy Change | Spectroscopic Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic | Occur when electrons in a molecule become excited from a low energy level to a high energy level. | Associated with the change in the energy level of electrons in the molecule. | Electronic spectra, which provide information about the electronic structure and energy levels of molecules. |
| Rotational | Occur due to changes in the orientation of the atomic nuclei in a molecule relative to each other. | Associated with the change in the orientation of atomic nuclei. | Rotational spectra, which provide information about the molecular geometry and intermolecular forces. |
| Vibrational | Occur when a molecule undergoes a change in its vibrational state, i.e., the distribution of atomic nuclei in space. | Consists of a series of closely spaced lines corresponding to a ν (vibrational quantum number) to ν + 1 (vibrational quantum number) transition and a wide range of rotational transitions. | Vibrational spectra, which provide information about the molecular geometry and intermolecular forces. |
These transitions can be observed and analyzed using various spectroscopic techniques, such as electronic, rotational, and vibrational spectroscopy, which help determine molecular structure and properties.
- Rotational vs Vibrational Spectroscopy
- Circular Motion vs Rotational Motion
- Oscillation vs Vibration
- Vibrational Relaxation vs Internal Conversion
- Rotation vs Revolution
- Dextrorotatory vs Levorotatory
- Mechanical vs Electromagnetic Waves
- Electronic vs Ionic Conduction
- Electronic vs Steric Effects
- Linear vs Rotary Molecular Motors
- Spin vs Orbital Angular Momentum
- Transition Metals vs Metalloids
- Electrostatic vs Electromagnetic
- Transition Metals vs Metals
- Electromagnetic Radiation vs Electromagnetic Waves
- Radiation vs Electromagnetic Radiation
- Oscillation vs Wave
- Transition Metals vs Inner Transition Metals
- Transition vs Transversion