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The Physical Chemist’s Toolbox
The Physical Chemist’s Toolbox
Second Edition

Robert M. Metzger
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, USA
This second edition first published 2023
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Edition History
John Wiley & Sons (1e, 2012)

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Applied for:


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Cover Design: Wiley


Cover Images: © abstract background © Govindanmarudhai/ Getty Images, figures Courtesy of Robert Metzger,
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Set in 9.5/12.5pt STIXTwoText by Straive, Pondicherry, India


v

Contents

Foreword xvii
Preface and Philosophy xix
About the Companion Website xxiii

1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools 1


1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Fundamental Forces, Elementary Particles, Nuclei, and Atoms 2
1.2 Force One: Gravitation 16
1.3 Force Three: Weak Force 17
1.4 Force Four: Strong Force 17
1.5 Review of Mathematical Concepts 24
1.5.1 Mathematics and Statistics 24
1.5.2 Functions, Equations, and Functionals 24
1.5.3 Quadratic, Cubic, and Quartic Equations 24
1.5.4 Partial Derivatives 27
1.5.5 Jacobians 30
1.5.6 Line integral 30
1.5.7 The Gauss–Green–Stokes Theorem 30
1.5.8 Techniques of integration 31
1.5.9 Differential Forms 33
1.5.10 Infinite Series 33
1.5.11 Sum and Integral Killers: The Kronecker Delta and the Dirac Delta Function 34
1.5.12 Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) 35
1.5.13 The Lagrange Method of Undetermined Multipliers 37
1.5.14 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 38
1.6 Mechanics, Vectors, Tensors, and Determinants 39
1.6.1 Forces and Linear Momentum 39
1.6.2 Dimensional Analysis 39
1.6.3 Unit Systems 39
1.6.4 Vectors 41
1.6.5 Determinants 42
1.6.6 Matrices 44
1.6.7 Tensors 45
1.6.8 Similarity Transformations 45
1.6.9 Eigenvalue-Eigenvector Problem 46
1.6.10 Planar Rotations 47
1.6.11 Eulerian Rotations 48
1.6.12 Covariant and Contravariant Vectors and Tensors 49
1.6.13 Covariant 49
1.6.14 Moment of Inertia and Angular Momentum 50
1.6.15 Derivative Operators: “Ski Slopes,” “Hernias,” and “Curls” 51
1.6.16 Gradient 52
vi Contents

1.6.17 Divergence 52
1.6.18 Curl 52
1.6.19 Gauss–Green–Stokes Theorem 53
1.6.20 Combinatorics 54
1.7 Hooke’s Law, One-dimensional Chain, Dispersion Relations, and Stress–Strain Tensors 55
1.7.1 Longitudinal Mechanical Waves Subjected to Hooke’s Law 57
1.7.2 Longitudinal Elastic Waves in a 1D Array of Equal Masses and Springs 57
1.7.3 One-dimensional Chain with Two Kinds of Atoms: A Band Gap Appears 59
1.7.4 Stress and Strain Tensors 61
1.8 Lagrange’s Function and Hamilton’s Function 62
1.9 Force Two: Electromagnetism 63
1.9.1 Coulomb’s Law and Ampère’s Law 63
1.9.2 Material Media and Their Reaction to External Fields 65
1.9.3 Maxwell’s Equations 66
1.9.4 Scalar and Vector Potentials 70
1.9.5 Polarization of Electromagnetic Waves 71
1.9.6 Multipoles 72
1.9.7 Electric Dipole Moments 73
1.9.8 Electric Multipole Moments, Polarizabilities and Hyperpolarizabilities 73
1.10 The Size of Fundamental Particles and the Physical Meaning of Quantum Numbers 74
1.11 Special Relativity 75
1.12 Feynman Diagrams 79
1.13 General Relativity, Gravity as a Curvature of Space-Time and the Size of the Universe 80
1.14 Elements of Optics 83
1.14.1 Jones Vector 88
1.14.2 Anisotropic Indices of Refraction 88
1.14.3 Mirrors 89
1.14.4 Prisms and Gratings 92
1.15 Transforms 94
1.15.1 Convolution Theorem 97
1.15.2 Laplace Transforms 98
1.15.3 Wavelet Transform 100
1.16 Contour Integration and Kramers–Kronig Relations 100
1.17 Error Analysis 102
1.17.1 Errors 102
1.17.2 Propagation of Errors 102
1.17.3 Gaussian Normal Error Probability Function 103
1.17.4 Binomial Distribution 104
1.17.5 Poisson Distribution 104
1.17.6 Least Squares or Linear Regression Analysis 104
1.18 Statistics 105
1.19 General References 107
References 137
End-of-Chapter Problems 138

2 Quantum Mechanics 147


2.0 Introduction 147
2.1 Quantum Postulates 147
2.1.1 Bras, Kets, and Hermitian Operators 151
2.2 Quantum Mechanics of the Free Electron 154
2.3 The Particle in a Box 155
2.3.1 Tunneling or Barrier Penetration or Scattering in One Dimension 157
2.3.2 Radioactive Decay 160
Contents vii

2.3.3 Gamow Calculation 161


2.4 The Harmonic Oscillator 162
2.5 The Hamiltonian for the One-electron Atom in a Central Field 165
2.6 The Rigid Rotor 173
2.7 The Hamiltonian and Eigenfunctions for the N-electron Atom or Molecule 174
2.8 Space Quantization: the Allowed Orientations of Orbital and Spin Angular Momenta 175
2.9 Aufbau for Atoms 176
2.10 Lewis Octets 177
2.11 Promotion and Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals 177
2.12 Bonding in Hydrogen Molecule: Valence Bond vs. Molecular Orbital and Variational Approaches 178
2.13 Aufbau for Molecules: σ and π Bonding 179
2.14 Perturbation Theory 182
2.15 The Hartree–Fock Method 184
2.16 The Roothaan–Hall Matrix Formulation of the Hartree–Fock Problem 185
2.17 Implementation of the Hartree–Fock Method 189
2.18 Configuration Interaction 190
2.19 Density Functional Theory (DFT) 191
2.20 Molecular Mechanics 194
2.21 The Hückel Problem, or “Simple” Hückel Molecular Orbital Theory (SHMO) 194
2.22 Extended Hückel Theory 199
2.23 Pariser–Parr–Pople Theory 199
2.24 Neglect of Differential Overlap (NDO) Methods 200
2.25 Magnetic Moments, Landé g-factor, Larmor Precession, Spin–Orbit Coupling, and Thomas Precession 204
2.25.1 Larmor Precession 206
2.25.2 The g = 2 Puzzle, Stated 208
2.25.3 Spin–Orbit Interaction 208
2.25.4 The g = 2 Puzzle Solved: Thomas Precession 209
2.26 More Terms of the Hamiltonian Operator for a Many-Electron Atom or Molecule 211
2.27 “Van der Waals” Interactions in Molecules 214
2.28 Atomic Structure: LS (Russell–Saunders) vs. jj Coupling 216
2.29 Molecular Spectroscopy 219
2.30 Einstein A and B Coefficients 223
2.31 Absorption of Light: Beer–Bouguer–Lambert Law, or Beer’s Law 225
2.32 Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory: The Rabi Formula 227
2.33 Fermi’s Golden Rule 229
2.34 Photon–Molecule Interaction – The Hamiltonian 232
2.35 Transition Moments and Einstein Coefficients 235
2.35.1 Oscillator Strength 236
2.36 Quantum Electrodynamics 236
2.37 General Radiative Transitions 237
2.38 Static vs. Resonant Detection 239
2.39 Static Electric–Dipole Selection Rules for the One-Electron Atom 239
2.40 Static Electric-Dipole Selection Rules for the Harmonic Oscillator 240
2.41 Lifetimes from Resonance Lineshapes 241
2.42 Light Scattering 241
References 271
End-of-Chapter Problems 273

3 Thermodynamics 277
3.0 Review of Thermodynamics 277
3.1 The Three (Plus One) Laws of Thermodynamics 277
3.1.1 Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics (Transitivity) 277
3.1.2 First Law of Thermodynamics (Conservation of Energy – “You Can’t Win”) 277
viii Contents

3.1.3 Second Law of Thermodynamics (“You Cannot Even Break Even”) 278
3.1.4 Third Law of Thermodynamics 278
3.2 Useful Auxiliary Functions: Enthalpy, Helmholtz Free Energy, and Gibbs Free Energy 279
3.3 Perfect Differentials (Two-Forms) 279
3.4 Useful Measurables: Thermal Expansivity, Heat Capacity, Joule–Thomson and Isothermal Thompson
Coefficients, and the Chemical Potential 281
3.5 Gibbs Phase Rule 283
3.6 Crystalline and Amorphous Solids 284
3.7 Liquids 284
3.8 Perfect Gas Law, the PVT Surface, the van der Waals Equation and Virial Equations 285
3.9 Arrhenius Assumption 290
3.10 More About Gases: Maxwell–Boltzmann Distribution, Collision Frequency, Mean Free Path, and Gaseous
Effusion 291
3.11 More About Liquids 292
3.11.1 Osmosis 293
3.11.2 Superfluid 294
3.12 More About Solids 294
3.12.1 Magnetic Solids 294
3.12.2 Electrets 295
3.13 Liquid Crystals 295
3.14 Two-component Liquid–Vapor Phase Diagrams 295
3.15 Two-component Solid–Liquid Phase Diagrams for Solid–Liquid Equilibria 298
3.16 The Chemical Potential, Ideal Solutions, and Colligative Properties 298
3.16.1 Freezing-Temperature Depression 299
3.17 Two-Dimensional Version of the Perfect Gas Law 300
3.17.1 Micelles and Liposomes 304
3.18 Contact Angle and Surface Tension Measurements 306
3.19 Adiabatic and Diathermal Walls and Fixed-Temperature Baths 308
3.20 Thermodynamic Efficiency: The Carnot, Otto, Diesel, and Rankine Cycles 308
3.21 International Standards for Time, Mass, Length, Temperature, and Brightness 310
3.22 Standard States and Enthalpies and Gibbs Free Energies of Formation 311
3.23 Bond Enthalpies 313
3.24 Electronegativity 318
3.25 Reaching for High and Low Temperatures 320
3.26 Attainment of High and Low Pressures 321
References 321
End-of-Chapter Problems 322

4 Statistical Mechanics 327


4.0 Introduction 327
4.1 Replicas and Ensembles, Fermions, Bosons, and Boltzons 328
4.1.1 Fermion Postulate 329
4.1.2 Boson Postulate 329
4.1.3 Boltzon Postulate 329
4.2 CB, FD, and BE Distributions, and the Microcanonical Ensemble 330
4.2.1 Maximum Probability 331
4.3 Canonical, Grand Canonical, Isothermal-Isobaric, and Generalized Ensembles 333
4.4 Links Between the Partition Functions and Some Thermodynamic Functions 338
4.5 Heat Capacities 338
4.5.1 Translation 339
4.5.2 Rotation 339
4.5.3 Nuclear Spin Effects on Rotation 340
4.5.4 Vibration 341
Contents ix

4.5.5 Electronic Excitation 341


4.5.6 Einstein and Debye Theories of the Low-temperature Heat Capacity of Solids [4.2] 342
4.5.7 Debye Theory of the Heat Capacity of Solids 342
4.6 Black-Box Radiation, and the Birth of Quantum Mechanics 343
4.7 Electronic Heat Capacity: Drude vs. Fermi–Dirac 346
4.8 Magnetic Susceptibilities 349
4.8.1 General Phenomenology 349
4.8.2 Dilute Ensemble of Paramagnetic Ions 350
4.8.3 Diamagnetism 352
4.8.4 Ferromagnetism 355
4.9 Electric Susceptibilities 356
4.10 Universal Theory of Critical Phenomena 360
References 360
End-of-Chapter Problems 361

5 Kinetics, Equilibria, and Electrochemistry 363


5.0 Introduction 363
5.1 Energetics, Reaction Coordinate, Transition States, Intermediates, and Catalysis 363
5.2 Classification of Reaction Types 367
5.3 First-Order and Unimolecular Reactions 368
5.3.1 Carbon-14 Dating 368
5.4 Second-Order (Unmixed) and Unmixed Bimolecular Reactions 369
5.5 Second-Order (Mixed) and Mixed Bimolecular Reactions 369
5.6 Third-Order (Unmixed) and Unmixed Termolecular Reactions 370
5.7 Reversible Reactions 370
5.8 Consecutive Reactions 371
5.9 The Steady-State Approximation and the Rate-Determining Step 372
5.10 Approximation Methods: the Michaelis–Menten Equation 372
5.11 Chain Reactions. The Reaction of Hydrogen and Bromine at High Temperature 375
5.12 Using Laplace Transforms to Solve Kinetics Equations 377
5.13 Reaction Rate Theories and Energy Surfaces 378
5.14 Marcus Theory of Electron Transfer 380
5.15 Equilibria in Aqueous Solution: pH 383
5.16 Equilibria in Nonaqueous Solvents 391
5.17 Lewis Acids and Lewis Bases 392
5.18 Electrochemistry: Electrode Potentials and the Nernst Equation 393
5.19 Gouy–Chapman Double-Layer Theory 405
5.20 Nernst–Planck and Cottrell Equations 406
Further Reading 409
References 409
End-of-Chapter Problems 410

6 Symmetry 411
6.0 Symmetry 411
6.1 Symmetry in Crystals 411
6.2 Symmetry Operations and Point Groups 412
6.3 Group Theory and Character Tables 418
6.4 Bravais Lattices 427
6.5 The 32 Crystallographic Point Groups 432
6.6 The 17 Plane Groups 433
6.7 The 230 Crystallographic Space Groups 434
6.8 Listing of Elements, Simple Compounds, and Their Crystal Structures 443
6.9 The Wigner–Seitz Cell 455
x Contents

6.10 Reciprocal Lattice 456


6.11 Symmetry of 2D Surfaces 458
6.12 Descent of Symmetry 459
6.13 Covariant and Contravariant Transformations 459
6.13.1 Covariant 459
6.13.2 Contravariant 460
6.13.3 Four by Four 461
6.13.4 Generation of 230 Space Groups Using 4 by 4 Matrices 462
6.14 Example of Descent of Symmetry: VO2 462
References 466

7 Solid State Physics 469


7.0 Introduction 469
7.1 Electrical Resistance, Hall Effect, Drude Model, Tunneling, and the Landauer Formula 469
7.2 Fermi–Dirac Statistics for Electron Gas: Sommerfeld Model 479
7.3 X-ray Diffraction 484
7.4 Quantum Numbers in a Macroscopic Solid: Bloch Waves 487
7.5 Bloch Waves in One Dimension and Dispersion Relations 488
7.6 Band Structures 490
7.7 Theoretical Methods for Computing Wavefunctions in Solids 495
7.7.1 The Tight-Binding Method 495
7.7.2 Cellular Method 497
7.7.3 Band Structure for the Muffin-tin Potential 498
7.7.4 Augmented Plane Waves (APW) 498
7.7.5 Orthogonalized Plane Waves (OPW) 498
7.7.6 Hubbard Hamiltonian 498
7.8 Mixed Valence and One-Dimensional Instabilities 498
7.9 Defects and Mobile Excitations in Solids and Molecules 500
7.10 Superconductivity 501
7.11 Lattice Energies: Madelung, Repulsion, Dispersion, Dipole–dipole, and Others 505
References 515

8 Electrical Circuits, Amplifiers, and Computers 519


8.0 Introduction 519
8.1 Electrical Components 519
8.2 Simple Circuits with No Rectification or Amplification 521
8.2.1 Resistors 522
8.2.2 Capacitance 522
8.2.3 Capacitors 522
8.2.4 Inductance 523
8.2.5 Inductors 523
8.2.6 Kirchhoff’s Rules for Circuits 523
8.2.7 Series RLC Circuit 524
8.3 Vacuum Tube Diode 528
8.4 Vacuum Tube Triode 530
8.5 Conduction in Pure and Doped Si and Ge 533
8.6 Rectification in pn Junction Diodes or Rectifiers 536
8.7 pnp and npn Transistors 540
8.8 Small-Signal Theory for Transistors 546
8.9 Large-Signal Behavior of Junction Transistors 549
8.10 Unipolar or Field-Effect Transistors (FET) 550
8.11 JFETs 554
8.12 Operational Amplifiers 554
Contents xi

8.13 Historical Introduction to Computers 557


8.14 Elementary Digital Concepts 558
8.15 Computer Architecture 560
8.16 Compilers 561
8.17 Simple Programming 562
8.18 Communicating with a Computer Operating System Commands 562
References 574
End-of-Chapter Problems 575

9 Sources, Sensors, and Detection Methods 577


9.0 Introduction 577
9.1 Cosmic Rays 577
9.2 Source: Isotopes and Fission Energy Sources 578
9.3 Source: Solar Energy 583
9.4 Source: Earth-Based Nuclear Fusion 588
9.5 Source: Photovoltaic Cells 589
9.6 X-rays 592
9.7 Cherenkov and Synchrotron Radiation, Bremsstrahlung 597
9.8 Conventional Light Sources 597
9.9 Microwave Sources 598
9.10 Masers and Lasers 599
9.11 Lightning 606
9.12 St. Elmo Fire 606
9.13 Aurora Borealis 607
9.14 Fireflies 607
9.15 Arcs and Sparks 607
9.16 Flames 607
9.17 Light-Emitting Diodes: Inorganic, Organic, and Polymeric 608
9.18 Chemical Explosives and High-Energy Compounds 609
9.19 Storage Batteries and Electrochemical Cells 610
9.19.1 Practical Cells and Batteries 613
9.20 Generation of High Voltages 615
9.21 Time Sensors 615
9.22 Mass Sensors 615
9.22.1 Two-Pan Balances 615
9.22.2 Magnetically Damped One-Pan Balances 616
9.22.3 Load-Cell Balances 616
9.22.4 Force-Coil Analytical Balances 616
9.22.5 Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) 616
9.22.6 Quartz Crystal Microbalance 617
9.23 Temperature Sensors 617
9.23.1 Liquid in Glass Thermometers 617
9.23.2 Platinum Resistance Thermometer 617
9.23.3 Thermistors 618
9.23.4 Bolometers 618
9.23.5 Quartz Crystal Thermometer 620
9.23.6 Pyrometers 620
9.24 Pressure Sensors 620
9.24.1 Mercury Manometer 621
9.25 Heat Capacities 622
9.26 Photographic Plates and Films 623
9.27 Wilson Cloud Chamber and Glaser H2 Bubble Chamber 624
9.28 Scintillation Counter 624
xii Contents

9.29 Geiger–Müller Counter 624


9.30 Proportional Counters 624
9.31 Spark Chamber 624
9.32 Photomultipliers 625
9.33 X-ray Area Detectors (Array Detectors) 625
9.34 X-ray and Infrared Fluoroscopy and Image Intensifiers 625
9.35 Direct Semiconductor Detectors 625
9.36 Charge-Coupled Devices 626
9.37 Photoelectric Cells 626
9.38 Interferometers 627
9.39 Superconducting Quantum Interference Device Magnetometers 628
9.40 Absorption Wavemeter 630
9.41 Magnetometers 630
9.42 Voltage Sensors 631
9.43 Slits and Bandwidth 632
9.44 Noise 632
9.45 Phase-Sensitive Detection or Lock-in Amplifiers 633
9.46 Heterodyne Detection 633
9.47 Derivative Detection 634
References 634

10 Instruments 635
10.0 Introduction 635
10.1 Physical Separations: Fractional Crystallization and Distillation 635
10.2 Chromatography 637
10.3 Biochemical Synthesizers and Polymerase Chain Reaction 639
10.4 Elemental Analysis 639
10.5 Mass Spectrometry 640
10.5.1 Application (Developed by C. Cassady): Analysis of Peptides by MALDI/TOF-MS 643
10.5.2 Application: Ionization and Electron Affinity 646
10.5.3 Combination Instruments 648
10.6 Optical and Electron Microscopy 649
10.7 Scanned Probe Microscopies: STM, AFM, MFM, and LFM 651
10.8 X-ray Diffraction of Ordered Crystals, Liquids, and Disordered Solids 656
10.8.1 X-ray Scattering and Diffraction Intensities 659
10.8.2 The Electron Density Function and the “Phase Problem” 661
10.8.3 Direct Methods 661
10.8.4 Patterson and Symmetry Superposition Methods 662
10.8.5 Least-Squares Refinement 662
10.8.6 Protein Crystallography 663
10.8.7 Liquids, Gases, and Disordered Solids 664
10.8.8 Small-Angle Scattering 665
10.8.9 Diffuse X-ray Scattering 665
10.8.10 Neutron Diffraction 666
10.8.11 EXAFS and XANES 666
10.9 Spectroscopy 667
10.10 Visible–Ultraviolet (V–UV) Spectroscopy 667
10.10.1 Polarization of V–UV Absorption 668
10.10.2 Application: Specular Reflection by Crystal Faces 668
10.10.3 Optical Conductivity 671
10.10.4 Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy 671
10.10.5 Application: First Excited State of Linear Polyenes 671
10.10.6 Application: Solvatochromism 671
Contents xiii

10.11 Atomic Absorption, Atomic Emission, and Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopies 672
10.12 Infrared and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy 673
10.12.1 FT-IR Advantages 675
10.13 Raman Spectroscopy 677
10.14 Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy 679
10.15 Fluorescence Spectroscopy 682
10.16 Microwave Spectroscopy 683
10.17 Surface Plasmon Resonance 684
10.18 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) 684
10.19 Magnetic Measurements 687
10.20 Magnetic Resonance 696
10.20.1 The Family of Magnetic Resonance Techniques 696
10.20.2 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) 699
10.20.3 Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer 699
10.20.4 The Bloch Equations for Magnetic Resonance 701
10.20.5 Slow Passage or Equilibrium or Steady-State Solution 703
10.20.6 Small Magnetic Field: Measurement of T2 705
10.20.7 Measurement of T2 705
10.20.8 Measurement of T1 706
10.20.9 Rapid Passage 706
10.20.10 Free Induction Decay 707
10.20.11 Spin-Echo NMR 708
10.20.12 Selective Saturation 708
10.20.13 NMR Spectrum of Ethanol 709
10.20.14 Chemical Shifts in NMR 709
10.20.15 Multiplets in NMR 710
10.20.16 Paramagnetism Kills the NMR Spectrum by Broadening 711
10.20.17 Magnitude of Relaxation Times 711
10.20.18 NMR in Solids 712
10.20.19 Magic-Angle Spinning 712
10.20.20 Multiple-Pulse Narrowing 712
10.20.21 2D NMR 712
10.20.22 Derivative Detection of EPR Transition 713
10.20.23 Stable Free Radicals 714
10.20.24 g-Tensor 714
10.20.25 Fine-Structure Splittings in ESR Spectra of Triplet States 716
10.20.26 Spin Labeling 716
10.20.27 Nuclear Resonance in Paramagnetic Systems: Knight Shift 717
10.20.28 Overhauser Effect 717
10.20.29 Electron–Nucleus Double Resonance (ENDOR) Spectroscopy 718
10.20.30 Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) 718
10.20.31 Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) 719
10.21 Mössbauer Spectroscopy 723
10.22 Electrochemical Methods 727
10.23 Electric Susceptibility 733
10.24 Nonlinear Optical Properties 734
10.25 Ellipsometry 737
10.26 Calorimetry 739
10.26.1 Reaction Calorimeters 741
10.26.2 Constant-Pressure Reaction Calorimeters 741
10.26.3 High-energy Particle Calorimeter 744
References 744
xiv Contents

11 Inorganic Chemistry and Nanomaterials 749


11.0 Introduction 749
11.1 Periodicity, the Discovery and Abundance of the Chemical Elements, and Valences 750
11.2 Nomenclature 757
11.3 Ionization Energies 757
11.4 Expansion of Acid and Base Concepts 758
11.5 Hard and Soft Acids and Bases 761
11.6 Eighteen-Electron “Rule” 761
11.7 Measures of Radii of Atoms and Ions 762
11.8 Bond Energies 770
11.9 Ionic Radii as a Function of Coordination Number, and Crystal Lattices 774
11.10 Structure and Bonding of Transition Metals 778
11.11 The Virtues of Valence-Bond Theory 778
11.12 The Virtues of VSEPR Theory 780
11.13 The Virtues of Crystal Field Theory 780
11.14 The Virtues of Ligand-Field Theory 785
11.15 The Virtues of Walsh Diagrams 790
11.16 Electron Transfer Theory and Mixed Valence 790
11.17 Mad Romp Through the Periodic Table 791
11.17.1 From Group 1: Hydrogen 791
11.17.2 From Group 1: Alkali Metals 793
11.17.2.1 Flame Test 794
11.17.3 From Group 2: Alkaline Earths 794
11.17.4 From Group 2: Calcium 794
11.17.5 From Group 3: Lanthanoids (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) and Actinoids (Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am,
Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No, and Lr) 795
11.17.6 From Group 4: Titanium 796
11.17.7 From Group 6: Chromium 796
11.17.8 From Group 6: Manganese 796
11.17.9 From Group 8: Iron 797
11.17.10 Ferromagnetism, Antiferromagnetism, and Ferrimagnetism 799
11.17.10.1 Present Frontier of Flexible Magnetic Media 799
11.17.11 Single-molecule Magnets (SMMs) 801
11.17.12 From Group 10: Platinum 801
11.17.13 From Group 12: Mercury and Superconductivity 801
11.17.14 From Group 13: Boron 801
11.17.15 From Group 13: Aluminum 802
11.17.16 From Group 13: Gallium and Indium 802
11.17.17 From Group 14: Carbon Allotropes 802
11.17.18 Cyclic Oxocarbon Anions 805
11.17.19 Photosynthesis, Oxides of Carbon, and Global Warming 806
11.17.20 From Group 14: Silicon 808
11.17.21 From Group 14: Tin 808
11.17.22 From Group 14: Lead 808
11.17.23 From Group 15: Pnictogens (N, P, As, Sb, Bi, and Mc) 809
11.17.24 From Group 15: Nitrogen 809
11.17.25 From Group 15: Phosphorus 810
11.17.26 From Group 15: Arsenic 812
11.17.27 From Group 16: Oxygen 813
11.17.28 Ozone O3 813
11.17.28.1 Smog 813
11.17.29 From Group 16: Sulfur 814
11.17.30 From Group 16: Polonium 814
Contents xv

11.17.31 From Group 17: Fluorine 814


11.17.32 From Group 17: Chlorine 815
11.17.33 From Group 18: Helium 816
11.17.34 From Group 18: Argon 816
11.17.35 From Group 18: Radon 816
11.17.36 From Group 18: Halides of Noble Gases 817
11.18 Reactions of Inorganic Complexes 817
11.19 Organometallics 819
11.20 Industrial Inorganic Chemistry 819
11.21 Elements Essential to Human Nutrition 821
11.22 Nanomaterials 821
11.23 Nanoparticle Synthesis 822
11.24 Size Dispersion in Nanoparticles 824
11.25 Excitons, Plasmons, and Quantum Dots in Semiconducting Nanoparticles 824
References 827
End-of-Chapter Problems 830

12 Organic and Polymer Chemistry and Catalysis 833


12.0 Introduction 833
12.1 Structure and Bonding 835
12.2 Nomenclature 836
12.3 Functional Groups 838
12.4 Optical Activity and Enantiomers 843
12.5 Reactivity of Molecules 847
12.6 Lewis Acids and Bases, Strong and Weak 851
12.7 Resonance 851
12.8 Electron-pair Pushing 851
12.9 Walsh Diagrams 852
12.10 Many Ways of Looking at Thermal or Photochemical Cycloadditions 855
12.10.1 The Diels–Alder Reaction 859
12.11 Polarity of Solutes and Solvents 860
12.12 Trends in Acid Dissociation Constants Explained 860
12.13 Reaction Types 862
12.14 Compendium of Reaction Types 863
12.14.1 SN1 (Substitution, Nucleophilic, Unimolecular) 863
12.14.2 SN2 (Substitution, Nucleophilic, Bimolecular) 869
12.14.3 SN 1 (Substitution, Nucleophilic, Unimolecular, Allylic Rearrangement) 870
12.14.4 SN2 (Substitution, Nucleophilic, Bimolecular, Allylic Rearrangement) 870
12.14.5 SE1 (Substitution, Electrophilic, Unimolecular) 870
12.14.6 SE2 (Substitution, Electrophilic, Bimolecular): E and F are electrophiles 871
12.14.7 SRN1 (Substitution, Radical, Nucleophilic, Unimolecular) 871
12.14.8 SH1 (Substitution, Homolytic, Unimolecular) 872
12.14.9 SH2 (Substitution, Homolytic, Bimolecular) 872
12.14.10 SN2Ar (also Known as SNAr) (Substitution, Nucleophilic, Bimolecular, Aromatic) 873
12.14.11 SE2Ar (Substitution, Electrophilic, Bimolecular, Aromatic) 873
12.14.12 E1 (Elimination, Unimolecular) 873
12.14.13 E2 (Elimination, Bimolecular) 874
12.14.14 E1cB (Elimination, Unimolecular, Conjugate Base) 874
12.14.15 Ei (Elimination, Intramolecular) 874
12.14.16 AdE2 (Addition, Electrophilic, Bimolecular) 875
12.14.17 AdN2 (Addition, Nucleophilic, Bimolecular) 875
12.14.18 AdH2 (Addition, Homolytic, Bimolecular) 876
12.14.19 E-Ad (Elimination, Addition) 877
xvi Contents

12.14.20 BAc2 (Basic Conditions, Acyl Transfer, Bimolecular) 877


12.14.21 AAc2 (Acidic Conditions, Acyl Transfer, Bimolecular) 877
12.15 Molecular Rearrangements 878
12.16 Organometallic Compounds 879
12.17 Catalysis 880
12.17.1 Turnover Number 882
12.18 Linear Free Energy Relationships 889
12.19 Retrosynthetic Analysis 890
12.20 Stable Free Radicals 891
12.21 Organic Polymers 893
12.22 Protecting Groups 897
12.23 Environmental Concerns 897
List of Named Organic Reactions 897
References 913
End-of-Chapter Problems 917

13 Biochemistry 923
13.0 Introduction 923
13.1 Cells and Cell Walls 924
13.2 Amino Acids and Oligopeptides 928
13.3 Peptides and Proteins 931
13.4 Enzymes 936
13.5 Chymotrypsin 938
13.6 Lysozyme 939
13.7 Carbohydrates and Glycoproteins 941
13.8 The Immune System 944
13.9 Nucleotides, Nucleic Acids, DNA, and RNA 946
13.10 Gene Expression from DNA to RNA Yields Polypeptide Assembly on a Ribosome 950
13.11 DNA Replication 953
13.12 DNA Manifold Replication, Clones and the Genome 955
13.13 Bio-energetics I: AMP, ADP, and ATP 958
13.14 Bio-energetics II: Anaerobic Glycolysis 960
13.15 Bio-energetics III: Citric Acid (or Krebs) Cycle 962
13.16 Vitamins 964
13.17 Oxidative Phosphorylation 964
13.18 Photosynthesis and Photophosphorylation 964
13.19 Neurons, the Nervous System, and the Human Brain 970
13.20 Parting Thoughts 975
References 976
End-of-Chapter-Problems 976

Index 979
xvii

Foreword

This book is exceptional, likely unique, for both the breadth of its coverage and the depth of the presentation. It is much
more than a textbook of physical chemistry. It is a compendium of physical science, that somehow manages to present all
relevant subjects, from particle physics and general relativity to life science, in full mathematical detail. The book assumes
little knowledge, even of the mathematical tools, for which it provides complete instruction and examples. It is a must-have
book, not only for students but also for practicing scientists in a wide range of disciplines.
The book belongs to a great tradition of physical chemistry, which originated in statistical physics and quantum mechan-
ics over a hundred years ago, and which has led to the “toolbox” of the book title. Application of these “tools” has led to
discoveries in chemistry, life science, and medicine. The trajectory from quantum mechanics to medicine was personified by
Linus Pauling, a towering figure of twentieth century chemistry. Pauling defined the path from “the nature of the chemical
bond” to principles of protein structure to molecular medicine. The author of this book was a student of Harden McConnell,
an acolyte of Pauling. The broad sweep of the book from quantum chemistry to biochemistry and the rigor of the presen-
tation are legacies of Pauling and the great century of physical science.
The book will, I hope, help sustain these legacies against the countervailing pressures of the modern, information age. It
was once possible to be a generalist and maintain an active, meaningful interest in all areas of science. Pauling could address
important questions ranging from atomic physics to medicine. Today, with the proliferation of information, it is difficult to
keep abreast of developments in even one narrow slice of one research area. The joy of science, the possibility of pondering
and even understanding all of nature, is much diminished.
As attention becomes focused on information, there is a tendency toward superficiality. There is less interest in discover-
ing fundamental principles. The book pushes back against this unfortunate tendency, by deriving much of chemistry from
first principles. Students and active scientists alike may be influenced to seek the underlying basis of things.
This book therefore goes beyond instruction in physical chemistry to a kind of manifesto of science. It nurtures a broad
interest and a desire to unravel the mysteries of nature. Despite all that has been learned, these mysteries abound. I, for one,
will carry this book as a companion, for both source and stimulation. I hope a generation of young physical chemists will do
the same.

Roger D. Kornberg
Stanford
14 December 2022
xix

Preface and Philosophy

“Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas”


=Happy is he who could know the causes of things
[Publius Vergilius Maro, 79 BC–19 BC, Georgics, Book 2 line 490]
“Provando e riprovando” (= test and test again)
Motto of the Accademia del Cimento (founded in Florence, Italy 1657)
“Fram” (= Norwegian for ”Forwards” = the name given to his ice-breaking ship by the
Arctic explorer and humanist Fridjof Nansen (1861–1930))
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never, never give in.”
[Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965) at Harrow School, 29 October 1941]

Ten years have elapsed since the First Edition of this book was published in 2012. It fared reasonably well as a compendium,
or encyclopedic review of theories and experiments in physics and chemistry, but it failed miserably as a textbook: almost no
classroom adoptions. This Second Edition is trying to help fix shortcomings, and add new material.
As before, the intended audience for this Toolbox remains the beginning researcher, who often has difficulty in reconcil-
ing recent or past classroom knowledge in the undergraduate or first-year graduate curriculum with the topics and research
problems current in research laboratories in the twenty-first century.
While several excellent and specialized monographs do exist for all the topics discussed in this book, to my knowledge
there is no single book, that covers adequately the disparate techniques needed for scientific advances in the twenty-first
century. In particular, there is a need to find “what will this or that technique do for my research problem?” The aim of this
Toolbox is therefore fourfold:

1) summarize common bases of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and materials science,


2) explain topics and techniques that underpin scientific instruments,
3) discuss the advanced instrumentation available in research,
4) review inorganic and organic chemistry, and biochemistry.

The book is interspersed with problems to do: some trivial, some difficult. This keeps the volume more compact, and
should be a useful pedagogical tool. This book tries to be a mathematically deep, yet brief and useful compendium of several
topics, which can and should be covered by more specialized books, courses, and review articles.
Throughout, the aim is to bring the student up to speed. The teaching of chemistry leaned rather heavily toward math-
ematical and physical rigor in the 1960s, but this fervor may have diminished, as chemical, physical, and biochemical com-
plexity eluded simple mathematical precision, and quite often the true answers would appear as small differences between
large numbers.
Lamentably, the recent educational trend has been to train what could be called one-dimensional scientists, very good in
one subfield, but blissfully unaware of the rest. It is sad that we no longer produce those broadly trained scientists of past
generations, who were willing to delve into new problems far from their original interest: I am thinking of Hans Bethe, Peter
Debye, Enrico Fermi, Linus Pauling, or Edward Teller. This Toolbox tries to adhere to this older and broader tradition,
redress the temporary malady, and help restore the universality of scientific inquiry.
Since 1936, The American Chemical Society has had a very successful Committee on Professional Training, that monitors
the classroom and laboratory preparation of undergraduates with a declared major in “ACS-certified” bachelor’s program.
xx Preface and Philosophy

Unfortunately no such monitoring exists for doctoral programs in chemistry, mainly because the thrust of the faculty direct-
ing doctoral dissertations is to minimize the academic course load, and maximize the time a student will work on their
doctoral research.
As Professor Marshall Oneillon of the University of Wisconsin explained to me, the research productivity of any student
might be estimated by a simple multiplication factor (MF). A mere data taker would be for his/her professor or research
advisor MF = 1.0: the professor could have collected the data himself or herself. A more creative or better-prepared graduate
student would be an MF > 1.0 (not easy to quantify). Research groups with a cumulative MF much greater than 1.0 would be
a tremendous resource to the research advisor, who could undertake higher-impact research projects. Immodestly, I will
claim that any student mastering the contents of the present textbook would raise his/her MF.
To the instructor: This Toolbox could be taught in a one-year graduate course covering in fair depth the concepts and
methods of physical, analytical, inorganic, and organic chemistry and also biochemistry, plus elements of materials science
and solid-state physics. This course could be team-taught. It should be taught with mandatory problem sets (students will
connect the dots by doing the suggested problems), and with recourse to traditional texts that cover e.g. quantum mechanics
or statistical mechanics in much greater detail. I am reminded of the very successful one-year team-taught courses such as
“Western Civilization” at Stanford University in the 1960s! I have taught selected chapters of the First Edition of the Toolbox
several times at the University of Alabama as a one-semester course.
To guide the student toward the more important equations, these are enclosed in thin black rectangles. In some chapters,
the more arcane topics are relegated to Special Topics (ST) sections, which are enclosed in large rectangles with pale blue
titles. To help with the teaching, PowerPoint® lectures that mirror the text are provided in the Supplementary Material. The
problems are shown with a gray background. Answers to all problems are in the Supplementary Material. Relevant anec-
dotes and some personal recollections are interspersed with the text to lighten the tone and interrupt the monotony of too
many serious concepts.
To Chemistry and Physics departments: The Toolbox could become a valuable resource for all entering graduate students,
so maybe students, even in areas far from physical chemistry, should be encouraged to buy it and work at it on their own.
To the student: (i) Do the problems; (ii) read around in specialized reference texts that may be suggested either in this
Toolbox or by your instructor(s); (iii) discover whether the Toolbox could be developed in new directions; (iv) my apologies
to you if long Tables were placed within the text as soon as they were mentioned, instead of relegating them to appendices at
the end of chapters: I hope that you do not fall asleep, but learn to skip over these Tables; (v) you could use my book as a
doorstop.
To myself: To adapt Tom Lehrer’s (1928–) famous quip, I am embarrassed to realize that at my present age Mozart had
been dead for 36 years.
Alan MacDiarmid (1927–2007) once said “Chemistry is about people”: In this spirit, full names and birth and death dates
are given to all the scientists quoted in this book; such brief historical data may help illuminate how and when science was
done. I have resisted mentioning who was a Nobel prize winner: too many to list, and some worthy scientists, e.g. Mende-
leyeff, Eyring, Edison, Slater, and Tesla, were not honored.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to many people who have educated me over several decades, as live teachers and silent
authors. In particular I am indebted to Prof. Willard Frank Libby (1908–1980), who taught us undergraduates at UCLA
to love current research problems, and led us into quite a few wild-goose chases; Prof. Harden Marsden McConnell
(1927–), who led us at Caltech and Stanford by example to see what are the interesting problems and what are “trivial”
problems; Prof. Linus Carl Pauling (1901–1994), who taught me electrical and magnetic susceptibilities with his incompa-
rable photographic recall of data and dates, and with his insight and humanity about current events; Dr. Richard Edward
Marsh (1922–2017) and Prof. Paul Gravis Simpson (1937–1978), who taught me crystallography; Prof. Michel Boudart
(1925–2012), who introduced me to heterogeneous catalysis; Mr. William D. Good (1937–1978), who taught me combustion
calorimetry; Prof. Sukant Kishore Tripathy (1952–2000) who introduced me to Langmuir–Blodgett films, and finally,
Prof. Richard Phillips Feynman (1918–1983), who taught me about the Schwarzschild singularity and event horizons,
and who was a source of deep inspiration, pleasant conversations, and mischievous fun. Thanks are also due to two persons
who helped me greatly in my academic career, and taught me a thing or two about what good science really means: Prof.
Andrew Peter Stefani (1927–2014) of the University of Mississippi and Prof. Michael Patrick Cava (1926–2010) of the Uni-
versity of Alabama. Prof. Carolyn J. Cassady (University of Alabama) kindly allowed me to use an experiment she had
devised for students of mass spectrometry.
The following books have inspired me: (i) Principles of Modern Physics, by Robert B. Leighton, (ii) Theoretical Physics by
Georg Joos, (iii) The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman, (iv) Principles of Instrumental Analysis by Doug
Preface and Philosophy xxi

Skoog, James Holler, and Stanley Crouch. In this twenty-first century, much help was obtained on-line from Wikipedia, but
“caveat emptor”!
Writing is teaching but also learning; with Marcus Porcius Cato (234–149 BC) who was echoing Solon (630–560 BC), I dare
to say again: “senesco discens plurima.”
Thanks are due to several friends and colleagues, who corrected errors and oversights: Prof. Massimo Carbucicchio
(University of Parma, Italy), Profs. Michael Bowman, Dan Goebbert, Shanlin Pan, and Richard Tipping (University of
Alabama), Prof. Harris J. Silverstone (Johns Hopkins University), Professor Zoltán G. Soos (Princeton University),
Dr. Ralph H. Young (Eastman Kodak Co.), Adam Csoeke-Peck (Brentwood, California), and Prof. Joel Primack (University
of California Santa Cruz). Prof. Silverstone also helped me with some graphics. A fellow group member of the McConnell
lab at Stanford, Prof. Roger Kornberg (Stanford University) agreed to write a Foreword.
The errors that remain are all mine; errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum [Lucius Anneus Seneca (c. 4 BC–66 AD)].
To the reader who finds errors: my apologies: I will try to correct the errors for some next edition; echoing what Akira
Kurosawa (1910–1998) said in 1989, when he received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievements in cinematography:
“So sorry, [I] hope to do better next time.” And if a new edition must be done, in 10 years I will be 92 years old! I tell people
that with good luck your body parts are warranted for 60 years; between the ages of 60 and 80 you are on extended warranty;
beyond the age of 80, good luck!
COVID-19 became a deadly pandemic for the whole world; for me it caused a frustrating delay: although I had sent the
finished manuscript to my publisher, Wiley/VCH in June 2020, as I was retiring at age 80 from the University of Alabama,
nothing was done for more than one year. The proof-reading and typesetting was done in Chennai, India, and I owe an
immense debt of gratitude to Mrs. Viniprammia Premkumar and Mr. Kavin Shanmughasundaram for their hardwork,
patience, thoroughness, love of detail, and infinite courtesy. Hopefully the book should be ready for shipment and sale
next year.

Robert M. Metzger
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, USA
15 November 2022
xxiii

About the Companion Website

This textbook is supported by a website which contains a variety of supplementary resources:

www.wiley.com/go/metzger/physchemtoolbox2

Online you will find:


1) Answers to almost all the problems
2) Chart of the Nuclides
3) Powerpoint lectures for all chapters
1

Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

“Viribus Unitis”
[with united forces]
Emperor Franz Josef the First (and the last) (1830–1916)

“It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future”


Lawrence P. “Yogi” Berra (1925–2015)

1.0 Introduction

This chapter presents several principles that underpin the chemical edifice; it is divided into four parts (Julius Caesar’s Gaul
was divided into only 3 parts). Part One (Sections 1.1–1.4) presents the fundamental physical forces whose interplay underlie
Mendeleyeff’s1 periodic table of the chemical elements. Part Two (Sections 1.5–1.8) reviews essential mathematical meth-
ods. Part Three (Section 1.9) discusses electricity and magnetism. Part Four (Sections 1.10–1.18) discusses the meaning of
quantum numbers, special relativity, general relativity, Feynman diagrams, physical optics, mathematical transforms, con-
tour integration, and statistics.
The chapter concludes with eleven Special Topics: 1. Natural Linewidths; 2. Nuclear Shell Model; 3. Factoring a Polyno-
mial; 4. Other Solutions of the Cubic Equation; 5. Solving a Quartic Equation; 6. Spherical Trigonometry; 7. Unit Systems for
Electromagnetism; 8. Nonlinear Optics; 9. Conic Sections, Ellipses, and Planetary Motion; 10. Ellipsometry in Detail; 11:
Standard Model, The Eightfold Way.
Within a traditional textbook, these concepts and methods would be presented as needed, but it seemed expedient to pull
them together here: this is a deliberate effort to link mathematics, physics, and chemistry into a unified and coherent whole.
In this book, important equations are boxed. To save space at the cost of elegance, fractions are mostly replaced by neg-
ative exponents for the denominator. For emphasis, double parentheses are used for those equations that had been pre-
sented earlier in the text.
To relieve the reader from too much seriousness. Sidelines occasionally interrupt the narrative.

Sideline 1.1 The name “physics” derives from the Greek word ϕυσις (=nature, essence): early physicists like
Newton2 were called natural philosophers. The word “chemistry,” through its Arabic precursor alchimya, derives
from the Greek word χημι (=black Earth), a tribute to the Egyptians’ embalming arts. Mathematics comes from
the Greek μαθημα (=learning, study). Algebra comes from the Arabic al-jabr (=transposition [to the other side of
an equation]). Calculus (as in “infinitesimal calculus”) is the Latin word for a small pebble.

1 Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleyeff (1834–1907).


2 Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727).

The Physical Chemist’s Toolbox, Second Edition. Robert M. Metzger.


© 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2023 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Companion website: www.wiley.com/go/metzger/physchemtoolbox2
2 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Sideline 1.2 Michael Faraday3 was asked “Of what use is electricity?” He supposedly answered “What is the use of a
new-born baby?” This same answer was actually first given by Franklin4 when witnessing the flight of the Montgol-
fier balloon over Versailles in 1785; this answer was repeated by Faraday in 1816 a propose of the discovery by Sir
Humphry Davy5 of several new chemical elements.

PART ONE: Fundamental Forces

1.1 Fundamental Forces, Elementary Particles, Nuclei, and Atoms

In a freshman chemistry class at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1959, the instructor, Libby,6 defined chemistry
as “the study of electrons and what they do.” However, he took pains to teach us that these electrons would have “nothing to
do if atomic nuclei did not exist.” So, it behooves us to talk briefly about nuclei, elementary particles, and the fundamental
forces in the cosmos: this will put chemistry in its proper perspective.

Sideline 1.3 Willard Libby told his physical chemistry class in 1960 “if you want to find out the science that is ten
years old, read a book; if you want to find out what is five years old, read a review article; if you want to find out what
is one year old, read a scientific article; if you want to find what is current today, pick up the telephone.”

The four fundamental forces, their governing equations, the mediating particles, their relative magnitudes, and their
ranges are listed in Table 1.1.
For some chemists and materials scientists, only the electrical force is considered essential, so much of Table 1.1 may
seem esoteric. But stable atoms exist only if the relevant nuclei can survive: chemists ignore nuclei at their own peril.
For some elementary particle experimentalists, most of everything “at lower energies” (below 1 GeV) is jocularly described
as “chemistry.” Astronomers try to observe and explain the whole universe, so they must worry about everything, starting with
gravitation and ending in nuclear structure and chemistry! The known elementary particles are listed in Tables 1.2 and 1.3.
We now introduce the four fundamental forces.

Force one: The first (and weakest) force is Newton’s force of universal gravitation (1687) [1.1]:

F 12 = − Gm1 M 2 r 12 r 312 111

which describes the attractive force F12 between two bodies of masses m1 and M2 placed a distance r12 apart, where G is the
constant of gravitation. The largest visible objects in the universe (galaxies, stars, quasars, planets, satellites, comets) are

Table 1.1 The fundamental forces.

Force Law Equation Mediating particle Relative magnitude Range

Gravitation Newton’s F 12 = − Gm1 M 2 r 12 r 312 Graviton 10−39 Infinite


a −2
Electricity Coulomb’s F 12 = q1 q2 r 12 4πε0 r 312 Photon 10 Infinite
−5
Weak nuclear — — Vector boson 10 10−18 m
Strong nuclear Inter-quark — Gluon b
1 10−15 m
Strong nuclear Inter-nucleon — Pion (gluon?)b 1 10−15 m
a
Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806).
b
For nucleon–nucleon strong interactions within nuclei, pions (=two-quark particles; see below) may be the mediating particles: gluons are
probably not involved directly, since the nucleons have no “color charge.” The internucleon potential goes to zero beyond 1.7 fm = 1.7 × 10−15 m.
Source: Adapted from Serway [1.3].

3 Michael Faraday (1791–1867).


4 Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790).
5 Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829).
6 Willard Frank Libby (1908–1980).
Table 1.2 Fundamental (quark, gluon, graviton, neutrino) and elementary (=fundamental plus two-quark and three-quark combinations) particles.

Relative
Life-time Relative electric Spin Parity Isospin z-component Baryon Strangeness Charm Beauty Truth
Particle name Symbol τ (sec) mass m charge Q S P T Isospin Tz Ba St Ch By Tr Composition

Quarks (fundamental, with six “flavors” u, d, s, c, b, and t, but not observed as single particles):
Up quark u ∞? ~4.6 2/3 1/2 +1 1/2 +1/2 1/3 0 0 0 0
Anti-up quark∗ u ∞? ~4.6 −2/3 1/2 −1 1/2 +1/2 −1/3 0 0 0 0
Down quark d ∞? ~16 −1/3 1/2 +1 1/2 −1/2 1/3 0 0 0 0
Anti-down quark∗ d ∞? ~16 1/3 1/2 −1 1/2 −1/2 −1/3 0 0 0 0
Charmed quark c ∞? ~2490 2/3 1/2 +1 0 0 1/3 0 +1 0 0
Anticharmed q∗ c ∞? ~2490 −2/3 1/2 −1 0 0 −1/3 0 −1 0 0
Strange quark s ∞? ~200 −1/3 1/2 +1 0 0 1/3 −1 0 0 0
Anti-strange q∗ s ∞? ~200 1/3 1/2 −1 0 0 −1/3 +1 0 0 0
Bottom quark b ∞? ~8480 −1/3 1/2 +1 0 0 1/3 0 +1 0 0
Antibottom q∗ b ∞? ~8480 1/3 1/2 −1 0 0 −1/3 0 −1 0 0
Top quark t ∞? >3.4E5 2/3 1/2 +1 0 0 1/3 0 0 0 +1
Antitop quark∗ t ∞? >3.4E5 −2/3 1/2 −1 0 0 −1/3 0 0 0 −1
Fundamental interaction carriers (for gluons, combination of color [r, y, b] and anticolor):
Photon ν ∞ 0 0 1 −1 1,0 1,0 0 0 0 0 0
Vector boson W+ 3E-25 1.6E5 1 1 −1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Vector boson Z0 3E-25 1.8E5 0 1 −1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vector boson W− 3E-25 1.6E5 −1 1 −1 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon1 rg ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon2 rb ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon3 gb ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon4 gr ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon5 br ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon6 bg ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon7 rr − gg 2 ? 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gluon8 rr + gg 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
− 2 bb 6

(Continued)
Table 1.2 (Continued)

Relative
Life-time Relative electric Spin Parity Isospin z-component Baryon Strangeness Charm Beauty Truth
Particle name Symbol τ (sec) mass m charge Q S P T Isospin Tz Ba St Ch By Tr Composition

Electron neutrino νe ∞ 0 0 1/2 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


Electron νe ∞ 0 0 1/2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
antineutrino∗
Muon neutrino νμ ∞ 0 0 1/2 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Muon νμ ∞ 0 0 1/2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
antineutrino∗
Tau neutrino νT ∞ 0 0 1/2 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tau antineutrino∗ νT ∞ 0 0 1/2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Graviton G 0? 0 0 2 ? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Higgs boson H0 1.6E-22 >224 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Leptons (elementary particles):
Electron e−, β−1 ∞ 1 −1 1/2 — — — 0 —
Positron∗ e +, β + ∞ 1 +1 1/2 — — — 0 —
Muona μ− 2.2E-6 237 −1 1/2 — — — 0 —
Positive muon∗ μ+ 2.2E-6- 237 +1 1/2 — — — 0 — —
Tau τ− <4E-13 3477 −1 1/2 — — — 0 — —
Positive Tau∗ τ+ <4E-13 3477 +1 1/2 — — — 0 — —
Mesons (combinations of two quarks):
Positive pion π+ 2.6E-8 273 1 0 −1 1 +1 0 0 0 0 0 ud
Negative pion∗ π− 3E-8 273 −1 0 −1 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 ud
Neutral pion π0 8E-17 264 0 0 −1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 uu − dd 2
Neutral ρ meson ρ 0
5E-24 1510 0 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 uu + dd 2
Positive kaon K+ 1.2E-8 493.8 1 0 −1 1/2 1/2 0 1 0 0 0 us
Negative kaon∗ K− 1.2E-8 493.8 −1 0 −1 1/2 −1/2 0 −1 0 0 0 us
Neutral kaon K0 8.9E-8 493.8 0 0 −1 1/2 −1/2 0 1 0 0 0 ds
Neutral kaon∗ K
0 5.2E-8 493.8 0 0 −1 1/2 1/2 0 −1 0 0 0 ds
η meson η0 5E-19 549 0 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 uu + dd − 2ss 6
η meson η 3E-21 958 0 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 uu + dd + ss 3
Hadrons or Baryons (combinations of three quarks):
Proton p, 1p1 ∞ 1838 +1 1/2 1 1/2 +1/2 1 0 0 0 0 uud
Anti-proton∗ p− ??? 1838 −1 1/2 1 1/2 +1/2 −1 0 0 0 0 uud
Neutron n, 0n1 925 1839 0 1/2 1 +1/2 −1/2 1 0 0 0 0 udd
Lambda0 Λ0 2.6E-10 1116 0 1/2 +1 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 uds
Charm Lambda+ Λc+ 2.0E-13 1116 1 1/2 +1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 udc
Bottom Lambda0 Λb0 1.4E-12 5622 0 1/2 +1 0 0 −1 0 0 1 0 udb
Sigma+ Σ+ 8E-11 1189 1 1/2 +1 1 1 1 −1 0 0 0 uus
Sigma0 Σ0 6E-20 1192 0 1/2 +1 1 0 1 −1 0 0 0 uds
Sigma− Σ− 1.5E-10 1197 −1 1/2 +1 1 −1 1 −1 0 0 0 dds
Ch. Sigma2+ Σ 2+ 3.0E-22 1200 2 +1 1 −1 1 −1 1 0 0 uuc
Xi0
Ξ0 2.9E-10 1315 0 1/2 +1 1/2 +1/2 1 −2 0 0 0 uss
Xi− Ξ− 1.6E-10 1321 −1 1/2 +1 1/2 −1/2 1 −2 0 0 0 dss
Omega− Ω− 1.6E-10 1672 −1 3/2 +1 0 0 1 −3 0 0 0 ssb
−31 −2
The masses m are rest masses, quoted relative to the mass of the electron, me = 9.109 389 7 × 10 kg, whose rest-mass energy is 0.510 999 06 MeV c ; the charges Q are quoted relative to the absolute
value of the charge on the electron, e = 1.602 176 57 × 10−19 C; lifetime is given as the known half-life (s) in the abbreviated format 2.34E-3, which translates as τ = 2.34 × 10−3 s; the lifetime is given as infinite
for those particles which have infinite lifetimes (except in particle-antiparticle collisions). “Quark comp.” gives the composition of the elementary particle in terms of its presumed quark components.
Not all unstable hadrons or mesons are listed. Antiparticles to other listed particles are indicated by asterisks (∗), but not all antiparticles are listed. The quantum numbers are for relative charge (Q),
spin (S), parity (P), isospin (T), z-component of isospin (Tz), baryon number (Ba), strangeness (St), charm (Ch), beauty or bottomness (By), and truth or topness (Tr).
a
The muons were first called mu-mesons, but are now better known as muons, leaving the π mesons, or pions, as the particles which may help “carry” the inter-nucleon strong force.
Source: Data from Serway [1.3].
6 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Table 1.3 Standard model of elementary particles.

Three historical generations of fermions


bosons
I II III

m = 2.2 MeVc–2 m = 1.28 MeVc–2 m = 173 MeVc–2 m=0 m =125 GeV c–2
Q = 2/3 Q = 2/3 Q = 2/3 Q=0 Q=0
Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 spin = 1 spin = 0
3 colors: R,B,G 3 colors: R,B,G RB’, and 7 more
3 colors: R,B,G
u c t g H
up charm top
Quarks

gluon Higgs

m = 4.7 MeVc–2 m = 96 MeVc–2 m = 4.18 MeVc–2


Q = –1/3 Q = –1/3 Q = –1/3 m=0
Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 Q=0
3 colors: R,B,G 3 colors: R,B,G 3 colors: R,B,G Spin = 1
d s b γ
down strange bottom photon

m = 0.51 m = 105.66

Gauge bosons
m = 1.7768 m = 91.9
MeVc–2 MeVc–2

Scalar boson
GeVc–2 GeVc–2
Q = –1 Q = –1 Q = –1 Q=0
Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1
e μ τ Z
electron muon Z boson
tau
Leptons

m < 2.2eV c–2 m < 1..7MeV c–2 m = 80.39


m < 15.5MeV c–2
Q=0 Q=0 GeV c–2
Q=0
Spin = 1/2 Spin = 1/2 Q = ±1
Spin = 1/2
νe νμ ντ Spin = 1
electron muon tau W
neutrino neutrino neutrino W boson

Note that “gauge” is a misnomer for “phase.”

held together by this weakest force, which may be transmitted by a mediating particle called the graviton (first detected in
2016) [1.2]. Its range extends to the whole universe. Masses are always positive.
Force two: it is the electrical force, which obeys Coulomb’s law (1785) [1.4]:

F 12 = q1 q2 r 12 4πε0 r 312 112

which describes the attractive (or repulsive) force F12 between two electrical charges q1 and q2 (positive or negative) placed
r12 apart, where ε0 is the electrical permittivity of vacuum. The fundamental electrical monopole (electron) is probably infi-
nitely stable; the mediating particle for the electrical force (photon) is observed and well understood. Magnetism is usually
due to moving electrical charges, but its monopole has never been seen, so magnetism is not really an independent force;
atoms have magnetic properties, and in wires the gegenions of electrical currents are dealt with as if they were “stationary,”
yet the overall charge is zero: hence, incredible dictu, magnetism is a special relativistic effect. As explained in Section 2.9,
electricity and magnetism are well described by Maxwell’s7 four field equations [1.5].
Force three: it is the “weak nuclear” or “Fermi”8 force (1934) [1.6], which explains the “β decay” of unstable nuclei into
stable ones and positron emission. The positron (β+ or e+) is the antiparticle of the electron (e−);
Force four: it is the strongest force in the universe; it is the “strong nuclear force,” which binds together the nuclei
and the constituents of atomic nuclei, but has an extremely narrow range. Indirect experimental evidence exists for a
mediating particle (gluon). Nucleons (neutrons, protons) and maybe also all nuclei consist of “elementary” particles

7 James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879).


8 Enrico Fermi (1901–1954).
1.1 Fundamental Forces, Elementary Particles, Nuclei, and Atoms 7

Table 1.4 Fundamental constants (gram-mole = molar mass in grams).

Name Symbol SI value

Gravitational constant G 6.673 84 × 10−11 m3 kg−1 s−2


Rest mass of electron me 9.109 389 7 × 10−31 kg
Electrical charge of electron e −1.602 176 57 × 10−19 C
Speed of light c 2.997 924 58 × 108 m s−1
Planck’sa constant of action h 6.626 070 15 × 10−34 J s
Planck’s reduced constant of action ℏ ≡ h/2π 1.054 571 6 × 10−34 J s
Free electron g-factor ge 2.002 319 304 386
Avogadro’sb number NA 6.022 140 76 × 1023 molecules(gram - mole)−1
Gas constant R 8.314 462 2 J mol−1 K−1
a
Max Planck (1858–1947).
b
Lorenzo Romano Amedeo Carlo Bernadette Avogadro, Conte di Quaregna e Cerreto (1776–1856).
Source: Modified from Mohr et al. [1.7].

Table 1.5 Other constants.

Name Symbol Equation SI value

Sommerfelda fine-structure constant α = e2/2ε0ch 1/137.035 999(=e2/ℏc in esu)


Gravitational acceleration at sea level at Equator g 9.780 31 m s−2
b
Boltzmann constant kB = R/NA 1.380 648 8 × 10−23 J K−1
Electrical permittivity of vacuum ε0 = m0− 1 c − 2 8.854 187 817 × 10−12 F m−1
−7
Magnetic permeability of vacuum μ0 = 4π10 1.256 637 061 4 × 10−6 N A−2
von Klitzingc–Landauerd quantum of resistance R0 = he−2 25 812.807 443 Ω
Magnetic flux quantum Φ0 = h/2e 2.067 833 76 × 10−15 Wb
a
Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld (1868–1951).
b
Ludwig Boltzmann (1844–1906).
c
Klaus von Klitzing (1940–).
d
Rolf William Landauer (1927–1999).
Source: Modified from Mohr et al. [1.7].

called quarks, which have never been seen free (proton–proton scattering experiments do show that protons consist of
“lumps”: this may have been the first experimental evidence for quarks).

Sideline 1.4 The name “quark” comes from a sentence in Joyce’s9 Finnegan Wake; a free quark has never been
isolated, but physicists have not looked in German grocery stores, where Quark is a well-known soft cheese!

Some important constants are given in Tables 1.4 and 1.5.


Other constants and unit conversions are given in Tables 1.6–1.12. The known nuclides are listed in Table X1 (please refer
www.wiley/go/metzger/physchemtoolbox2). We next discuss in more detail gravity, the weak force, and the strong force.
The electrical force is delayed to Part Three (Section 1.9) until after a mathematical interlude is given in Part Two (Sections
1.5–1.8).

9 James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (1882–1941).


8 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Table 1.6 SI base unitsa.

Name Symbol Unit Abbreviation

Length L meter m
Mass M kilogram kg
Time T second s
Electric current J ampère A
Temperature t Kelvin K
Amount of substance mole mol
Luminous intensity candela cd
a
Definitions: 1 m ≈ 1/40 000 000 of circumference of Earth (1790 definition) = 1 650 763.73 wavelengths of the orange-red line of
86
Kr under specified conditions (1960 definition); 1 s = 1/86 400th of a mean Earth day; 1 kg ≈ mass of 1000 cm3 of H2O at 4 C
and 1 atm (1790 definition) = mass of a standard Pt–Ir alloy cylinder in Sèvres, France; 1 A = constant current which, if maintained
in two infinitely long wires of negligible cross section and held parallel 1 m apart in vacuum, would exert a force of 2 × 10−7 N per m
of length.; 1 mol = Avogadro’s number of molecules = 6.022 140 76 × 1023 molecules (gram-mole)−1 = number of molecules per
gram (NOT kilogram!); 1 cd = luminous intensity in the perpendicular direction of a surface of 1/600 000 of a square meter of a
blackbody at 1773 C and 1 atm (older definition) = luminous intensity in a given direction of a source of monochromatic radiation of
frequency 5.40 × 1014 Hz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 W sr−1 (1979 definition).

Table 1.7 Metric multipliers: tera, peta, exa come from tetra, penta, hexa with one letter removed; zetta, yotta come from
zeta, iota, with one letter added; atto comes from Danish “atten” for 18; zepto comes from Latin “septem” or Greek “hepta”
(1000−7); and yocto comes from Greek “octo” (1000−8) with one prefix letter added.

deca da ×10+1 deci d ×10−1


hecto h ×10 +2
centi c ×10−2
kilo k ×10+3 milli m ×10−3
mega M ×10 +6
micro μ ×10−6
giga G ×10+9 nano n ×10−9
tera T ×10 +12
pico p ×10−12
peta P ×10+15 femto f ×10−15
exa E ×10 +18
atto a ×10−18
zetta Z ×10+21 zepto z ×10−21
yotta Y ×10 +24
yocto y ×10−24

Table 1.8 Atomic units (using SI values for e, me, h, c).

Quantity Description Symbol Size (in SI units)

Charge Charge of the electron e −1.602 176 57 × 10−19 A s


Speed Speed of light in vacuum c 2.997 924 58 × 108 m s−1
Velocity Velocity of electron in first Bohr orbit e2/2ε0h 2.1877 × 106 m s−1
Mass Rest mass of the electron me 9.109 389 7 × 10−31 kg
Length Radius of first Bohr orbit (1 b = a0) 107 h 2πec 2 me− 1 5.291 772 5 × 10−11 m
Time (From electron momentum in first Bohr orbit) 2e20 h3 πme e4 2.4189 × 10−17 s
Gravitation Newton’s constant of universal gravitation G 6.673 × 10−11 m3 kg−1 s−1
Energy 2×H atom ionization energy (1 hartree) me e4 4e20 h2 4.3558 × 10−18 J
Momentum Electron momentum in first Bohr orbit mee2/2e0h 1.9926 × 10−24 kg m s−1
1.2 Fundamental Forces, Elementary Particles, Nuclei, and Atoms 9

Table 1.8 (Continued)

Quantity Description Symbol Size (in SI units)

Frequency (From electron momentum in first Bohr orbit) πmee4/2ε0h3 4.1341 × 1016 s−1
Electrical potential (From electron momentum in first Bohr orbit) 3 2 27.210 V
π1 2 me e3 2ε0 h2
Electrical field (From electron momentum in first Bohr orbit) π 2
m2e e4 ε20 h4 5.142 × 109 V cm−1
strength
h Planck’s constant (of action) h 6.626 069 0 × 10−34 J s
ε0 Electron permittivity of vacuum (artificial) 10 /4πc 7 2
8.853 742 338 × 10−12 F m−1
(use this number for SI unit
conversions; otherwise units:
s2 m−2)
μ0 Magnetic permeability of vacuum (artificial) 4π10−7 1.256 637 061 4 × 10−6 N A−2
(use this for SI unit conversions;
otherwise, pure number; also:
H m−1)

Table 1.9 Other derived constants (using SI values for e, me, h, c).

Symbol Definition Numerical value

1 amu 1 atomic mass unit = 10−3/NA ≡ (1/12) of mass of = 1.660 540 2 × 10−23 kg
12
6C atom
ℏ ≡ h/2π = 1.054 571 635 × 10−34 J s
e ≡ Charge on electron in cgs-esu = 10ec = 4.803 206 799 × 10−10 sC
1 eV = (NAe/R) = 11 604.45 K = 10−2 (e/hc) = 8065.54 cm−1 = 8.065 54 kK
= (hc/e) = 1.239 842 447 × 10−6 m = 12 398.4 Å = 1239.84 nm
= {e} = 1.602 176 57 × 10−19 J
−14 4 4 −2
1 hartree ≡ e /a0 = 27.211 eV = 4π10
2
mee c h = 4.3558 × 10−18 J
1F ≡ NAe = 96 485.309 C mol−1
μB = 1 bohr magneton = 9.274 015 4 × 10−24 J T−1
eℏ 2me = eh 4πme = 9.274 015 4 × 10−21 erg G−1
2 −1
G0 ≡ 2e h = 1 quantum of electrical conductance = 7.748 091 696 × 10−5 S
= 1/von Klitzing/Landauer’s constant
Φ0 ≡ h/2e = 1 quantum of magnetic flux = 2.067 833 636 × 10−15 Wb
4πε0 = 107c−2 = 1.112 650 056 × 10−10 F m−1 (use this for SI unit conversions;
otherwise: s2 m−2)
μ0ε0 ≡ c−2 = 1.112 650 056 × 10−17 s2 m−2
−7
(μ0/ε0) 1/2
= μ0c = 4π10 c = Z0 (characteristic impedance = 376.730 313 461 Ω (for SI unit conversions; otherwise: m s−1)
of vacuum)
α ≡ Sommerfeld fine-structure constant = 7.297 353 080 × 10−3 (pure #) in esu
≡ e2/ℏc (using esu values for e,ℏ, c) = 1/137.035 989 5 (pure #) in esu
≡ e2/4πε0cℏ (using their SI values) = 1/137.035 989 5 (pure #) in SI
10 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Table 1.10 Other conversion factors.

Unit Conversion Expression in SI base units Expression in other SI units

1 Å(ngstrom)a = 0.1 nm = 10−10 m(eters)


1 bohr = 0.052 917 725 nm = 0.529 177 25 Å = 5.291 772 5 × 10−11 m
1 Kb = Kayser = 1 wavenumber = 1 cm−1
−1 −1
1 Hz = (1/2π) cycles s = 1 (cycle) s
1 N = Newton 5
= 10 dyn = 1 kg ms−2 = 1 J m−1
2 −2
1 dyn = (1 abA) cm
1 dyn = (1 statC)2cm−2
1 Pa = Pascal c
= 0.007 500 616 Torr = 1 kg m−1 s−2 = 1 N m−2
1 (standard) atm = 101.325 kPa = 0.101 325 MPa = 760.000 0 Torr
1 P = Poised = cgs unit of viscosity = 1 g cm−1 s−1 = 0.1 Pa s
1 J = Joule = 107 erg = 1 kg m2 s−2 = 1 Ws = 1 N m
−1
1 erg = 1 statC cm 2
= 10−7 J = 1 sC sV
1 cal(orie) = 1 g-cal = 4.184 00 J
1 kcal = 1 kg-cal = 4.184 00 × 103 J
1 eV(olt) = 1.602 176 57 × 10−19 J = 1.602 176 57 × 10−12 erg
1 eV/molecule = 96.485 kJ/mol
1 hartree = 27.211 eV
1 C = Coulomb =1As =1CVs
1/2 3/2 −1
1 s(tat)C(coulomb) =1 g cm s(econd)
1 abC(coulomb) = 10 C
1 V = Volt = 1 kg m2 A−1 s−3 = 1 W A−1
−1
1 s(tat)V(olt) = 1 s(tat)C(oul) cm
1 abV(olt) = 108 V
1 Ohm = Ω = 1 V A−1 = 1 kg m2 A−2 s−3 = 1 W A−2
1 abΩ = 10−9 Ω
1 S = Siemens = 1 Ω−1 = 1 kg−1 m−2 A2 s3 = 1 A V−1
1 F = Farad = 1 C(oulomb)2 J(oule)−1 = 1 kg−1 m−2 A2 s4 = 1 C V−1
−2 −2
1 H = Henry 9
= 10 emu of inductance = 1 kg m A 2
s = 1 Wb A−1 = 1 V s A−1
1 W = Watte = 1 J(oule) s−1 = 1 A V s−1 = 1 C V s−2
−3
1 W(att) = 1 kg m s 2
= 1 J s−1 = 1 A V
1 Wb = Weber = 1 kg m2 A−1 s−2 =1Vs
1 T = Tesla 4
= 10 G(auss) = 1 kg A−1 s−2 = 1 Wb m−2 = 1 V s m−2
1 Oe = 1 g1/2 cm−1/2 s(econd)−1
−3
1 Oe cm 2
= 1 erg = 10−7 J
1 au time = 2 419 × 10 − 17 s = 2ε20 h3 πme e4
1 au electric field = electric field on electron 1 bohr radius from
proton = ea0− 2 = 1.7 × 107 sV cm−1 = 5.142 ×
1011 V m−1
1 au magnetic field = (wave or Gaussian convention) = aℏe − 1 a0− 2
= 1 716 × 103 T
1 au magnetic field = (Lorentz convention) = 2.5 × 105 T
f
1L = 1 monolayer
1 Da = Dalton = 1 atomic mass unit = mass, in g, of 6.022 ×
1023 hydrogen atoms
1.2 Fundamental Forces, Elementary Particles, Nuclei, and Atoms 11

Table 1.10 (Continued)

Unit Conversion Expression in SI base units Expression in other SI units

1 dirac = 1 word/h (after the taciturn Paul A.M. Dirac)


g
1 helen = beauty that can launch 1000 ships (after
Helen of Troy)
a
Anders Jonas Ångström (1814–1874).
b
Heinrich Gustav Johannes Kayser (1853–1940).
c
Blaise Pascal (1623–1682).
d
Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869).
e
James Watt (1736–1819).
f
Irving Langmuir (1881–1957).
g
Helen of Sparta and Troy, daughter of Zeus and Leda; mythical (c. 1250 BC).

Table 1.11 Definitions of the electric field E, the (di)electric polarization P, the electric displacement D, the magnetic field H, the magnetization
M, the magnetic induction or flux density B, statement of the Maxwell equations, and of the Lorentz force equation in various systems of
units; rat. = rationalized (no 4π), unrat. = the explicit factor 4π is used in the definition of dielectric polarization and magnetization;
c = speed of light (using SI values for e, me, h, c) [1.29].

System Constitutive equations Maxwell equations Lorentz force Units

cgs-esu (unrat.) D = E + 4πP ∇ D = 4πρ ∇ × B = 4πJ + ∂D/∂t E+v×B E sV cm−1


P sC cm−2
D sC cm−2
H = c2B − 4πM ∇ B = 0 ∇ × D + ∂B/∂t = 0 H sA cm−1
M sA cm−1
B statT
cgs-emu (unrat.) D = c−2E + 4πP ∇ D = 4πρ ∇ × B = 4πJ + ∂D/∂t E+v×B E abV cm−1
P abC cm−2
H = B − 4πM ∇ B = 0 ∇ × D + ∂B/∂t = 0 D abC cm−2
H Oe
P = χ emuE MG
B = μemuH BG
M = χ emuH
Gaussian (cgs, D = E + 4πP ∇ D = 4πρ ∇ × B = 4πc−1J + c−1∂D/∂t E + c−1v × B E sV cm−1
unrat.) P sC cm−2
D sC cm−2
H = B − 4πM ∇ B = 0 ∇ × D + c−1∂B/∂t = 0 H Oe
MG
BG
Heaviside-Lorentz D = E+P ∇ D = ρ ∇ × B = c−1J + c−1∂D/∂t E + c−1v × B E sV cm−1
(cgs, rat.) P sC cm−2
D sC cm−2
H = B−M ∇ B = 0 ∇ × D + c−1∂B/∂t = 0 H Oe
MG
BG
Atomic units D = E + 4πP ∇ D = 4πρ ∇ × B = α(4πJ + ∂D/∂t) E+v×B E e b−2
(unrat.) (Hartree; P e b−2
Gauss convention) D e b−2
H = B − 4πM ∇ B = 0 ∇ D + α∂B/∂t = 0 H e b−2
M e b−2
B e b−2

(Continued)
12 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Table 1.11 (Continued)

System Constitutive equations Maxwell equations Lorentz force Units

Atomic units D = E + 4πP ∇ D = 4πρ ∇ × B = 4πJ + ∂D/∂t E+v×B E e b−2


(unrat.) (Hartree; P e b−2
Lorentz D e b−2
convention) H = B − 4πM ∇ B = 0 ∇ D + ∂B/∂t = 0 H e b−2
M e b−2
B e b−2
SI and SI (rat.) D = ε 0E + P ∇ D = ρ ∇ × B = J + ∂D/∂t E+v×B E V m−1
P C m−2
D C m−2
H = μ0− 1 B − M ∇ B = 0 ∇ D + ∂B/∂t = 0 H A m−1
M A m−1
BT

For Hartree atomic units of magnetism, two conventions exist: (i) the “Gauss” or wave convention, which requires that E and H have the same
magnitude for electromagnetic waves in vacuo; (ii) the Lorentz convention, which derives the magnetic field from the Lorentz force equation;
the ratio between these two sets of units is the Sommerfeld fine-structure constant α = 1/137.035 989 5.

Table 1.12 Conversion factors (using SI values for e, me, ℏ, and c).

Symbol Name SI esu (➔SI) emu (➔SI) au (➔SI)

L Length (do not confuse m cm cm b ≡ a0


this with inductance L) 10−2 10−2 5.292 × 10−11
= 107 ℏ ec 2 me− 1
m Mass kg g g electron mass ≡ me
10−3 10−3 ≡9.109 × 10−31
t Time s s s ℏ (hartree)
2.419 × 10−17
= 2ε20 h3 πme e4
v Speed m s−1 cm s−1 cm s−1 e2/ℏ
10−2 10−2 2.1877 × 106
= e2/2ε0h
V Volume (do not confuse m3 cm3 cm3 b3
this with V = Volt) 10−6 10−6 1.482 × 10−31
= a30
F Force N(ewton) dyn dyn hartree b−1
10−5 10−5 8.238 × 10−8
= mee4/a0(4πε0ℏ)2
W Work, energy J(oule) erg erg hartree
10−7 10−7 4.359 × 10−18
= e2/4πε0a0
= me e4 4ε20 h2
(The hartree is twice the ionization energy of the hydrogen atom)
A Action (do not confuse Js erg s erg s ℏ = Planck constant/2π
this with A = Ampère) 10−7 10−7 1.054 × 10−34
= h/2π
q Electric charge C(oulomb) s(tat)C(oulomb) abC Electron charge ≡ e
3.336 × 10−10 10 1.602 × 10−19
= 10−1c−1 ≡e
ρ Electric charge density C m−3 sC cm−3 abC cm−3 e b−3
3.336 × 10−4 10−5 1.081 × 1012
= 105c−1 = ea0− 3
mel Electrical dipole moment Cm sC cm abC cm electron bohr
3.334 × 10−8 0.1 8.478 × 10−30
= 10c−1 = ea0
1.2 Fundamental Forces, Elementary Particles, Nuclei, and Atoms 13

Table 1.12 (Continued)

Symbol Name SI esu (➔SI) emu (➔SI) au (➔SI)

(NB: 1 Debye = 3.336 × 10−30 C m = 4.803 sC cm = 2.541 e b = 4.803 e Å)


Qel Electrical quadrapole C m2 sC cm2 abC cm2 au
moment 3.336 × 10−3 4.487 × 10−40
10−14 = = ea20
10−3
= 10−5c−1
I Electric current A(mpère) statC s−1 abA = Biot e/‟au time”
3.336 × 10−10 10 6.624 × 10−3
= 10−1c−1 = e3/4πε0ℏa0
J Electric current density A m−2 statC s−1 cm−2 abA cm−2 e b−2(“au time”)−1
(volume) 3.336 × 10−6 103 2.365 × 1018
= 103c−1 = 1 28 × 10 − 26 π7 m3e c8 e9 h − 7
E Electric field V m−1 statV cm−1 abV cm−1 e b−2
2.998 × 104 1 × 10−6 5.142 × 1011
= 10−4c = e 4πε0 a0− 2
P (Di)electric polarization C m−2 statC cm−2 abC cm−2 e b−2
3.336 × 10−6 10−3 5.142 × 1011
= 103c−1 = ea0− 2
D Electric displacement C m−2 sC cm−2 abC cm−2 e b−2
dielectric induction 2.653 × 10−7 10−3 5.142 × 1011
= 103/4πc = ea0− 2
ε Dielectric constant pure # pure # pure # pure #
V Electric potential (do not V(olt) statV = sC cm−1 abV e b−1
confuse this with 2.998 × 102 10−8 27.211 39
V = volume) = 10−6c = e/4πε0a0
α Linear electric m3 cm3 cm3 b3 (Gauss convention)
polarizability 1.257 × 10−5 1.257 × 10−5 1.862 × 10−30
= 4π10−6 = 4π10−6 = 4πa30
SI : C m2 V−1 [SI / au (Gauss convention)
SI = ε0 = 1.649 × 10−41
8.854 × 10−12] = 4πε0 a30
= e2 a20 hartree
β First-order m4 V−1 cm5 abC−1 cm5 abC−1 au (Gauss convention)
nonlinear electric 4.192 × 10−10 2.998 × 104 3.622 × 10−42
hyperpolarizability = 4π10−2c−1 = 4π = 16π2 ε0 a50 e − 1
SI : C m3 V−2 au (Gauss convention)
[SI /SI = ε0 = 3.206 × 10−53
8.854 × 10−12] = e3 a30 hartree2
= 16π2 e20 a50 e − 1
γ Second-order SI: m5 V−2 cm7 sC−2 cm7 abC−2 au (Gauss convention)
nonlinear electric 1.398 × 10−14 1.256 × 10−5 7.042 × 10−54
hyperpolarizability = 4π102c−2 = 4π106 = 256π3 e20 a70 e − 2
SI : C m4 V−3 [SI / au (Gauss convention)
SI = ε0 = 6.235 × 10−65
8.854 × 10−12] = e4 a40 hartree3
= 256π3 e30 a70 e − 2
χ (1) First-order linear SI: pure # esu: pure # emu: pure # pure #
electrical susceptibility
SI : F m−1
[SI /SI = ε0 =
8.854 × 10−12]
χ (2) Second-order nonlinear SI: m V−1 sC sV−2 abC ab V−2 e(e b−1)−2
electrical susceptibility 4.192 × 10−4 5.171 × 10−30 2.444 × 10−11
= 4π104c−1 = 4π1012c−5 = 16π2 e20 a20 e − 1
SI’: C V−2
[SI /SI = ε0 =
8.854 × 10−12]

(Continued)
14 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Table 1.12 (Continued)

Symbol Name SI esu (➔SI) emu (➔SI) au (➔SI)

χ (3) Third-order nonlinear SI: m2 V−2 cm sC sV−3 cm abC abV−3 e b(e b−1)−3
electrical susceptibility 1.398 × 10−8 8.99 × 1022 4.208 × 10−34
= 4π108c−2 = 106c2 = 64π3 e30 a40 e − 2
SI : C m V−3
[SI /SI = ε0 =
8.854 × 10−12]
R Electrical resistance Ω s cm−1 abΩ au
1.113 × 1012 10−9 4.878 × 1014
= 105c−2 = e2a0 = h−1
G Electrical conductance S = mho cm s−1 abS au
8.988 × 1011 109 2.050 × 10−15
= 10−5c2 = e − 2 ha0− 1
ρ Electrical resistivity Ωm s abΩ cm Quantum of resistivity
(volume) 8.985 × 109 10−11 2.5813 × 104
= 10−7c2 = he−2
σ Electrical conductivity S m−1 s−1 abΩ−1 cm−1 Quantum of conductance
(volume) 1.113 × 10−10 10−7 3.874 × 10−5
= 107c−2 = e2h−1
C Electrical capacitance F(arad) statF = cm abF b
(do not confuse this with 1.113 × 10−12 109 5.29 × 10−11
C = Coulomb) = 105c−2 = a0
L Electrical inductance H(enry) statH = cm−1 s−2 abH b−1(au time)−2
1.113 × 10−8 10−9 3.229 × 1043
= 109c−2 = 10 − 7 π4 ε0− 4 m3e e10 c2 h − 8
m Magnetic dipole moment A m2 = J T−1 statA cm2 abA cm2 au (Gauss convention)
(loop; do not confuse this 3.34 × 10−14 = erg G−1 1.354 × 10−25
with m = mass) = 10−5c−1 10−3 = αeℏme− 1
au (Lorentz convention)
1.855 × 10−23
= eℏme− 1
j Magnetic dipole moment Wb m statT cm3 emu au (Lorentz convention)
(if B = μ0H + J, where =Vsm 3.77 × 1011 1.26 × 10−9 1.855 × 10−23
J = j × volume) = J m A−1 = 12π1010 = 4π10−10 = eℏ/me
μB Bohr magneton J T−1 erg stat T−1 erg G−1 au (Gauss convention)
10−3 10−3 6.769 × 10−26
= αeℏ/2me
au (Lorentz convention)
9.274 × 10−24
= eℏ/2me
Φ Magnetic flux Wb = V s statT cm2 M(a)x(well) au (Gauss convention)
= J A−1 2.998 10−8 4.803 × 10−18
= 10−8c = 10−8 = αℏe−1 = ec × 10−7
au (Lorentz convention)
6.583 × 10−16
=ℏe−1
B Magnetic T(esla) statT Gauss = abT au (Gauss convention)
induction = magnetic =Wb m−2 2.998 × 106 = Mx cm−2 1.716 × 103
flux density = magnetic = J A−1 m−2 = 10−2c 10−4 = αℏe − 1 a0− 2
field = V s m−2 au (Lorentz convention)
2.351 × 105
= ℏe − 1 a0− 2
H Magnetic field A m−1 statA cm∗−1 Oe = abA cm−1 au (Gauss convention)
strength = magnetizing 2.652 × 10−10 79.577 1.716 × 103 =
force (do not confuse this = 10−1/4πc ∗ = 103/4π = αℏe − 1 a0− 2
with H = Henry) au (Lorentz convention)
2.351 × 105
= ℏe − 1 a0− 2
Table 1.12 (Continued)

Symbol Name SI esu (➔SI) emu (➔SI) au (➔SI)

M Volume magnetization A m−1 esu cm−3 emu cm−3 au (Gauss convention)


(moment/volume) 3.334 × 10−8 103 1.716 × 103
= 10 c−1 = aℏe − 1 a0− 2 au (Lorentz convention)
2.351 × 105
= ℏe − 1 a0− 2
U Magnetic potential A = A-turn esu Gb = Gilberta au (Gauss convention)
difference 2.654 × 10−10 0.7958 1.169 × 10−21
magnetomotive force = 1/4πc = 10/4π = αe
au (Lorentz convention)
1.602 × 10−19
=e
J, I Magnetic polarization T = Wb m−2 esu cm−3 emu cm−3 au (Gauss convention)
intensity of 3.767 × 107 =erg/(Gg) 1.716 × 103
magnetization = 4πc10−2 1.257 × 10−3 = aℏe − 1 a0− 2
(if B = μ0H + J) =4π10−4 au (Lorentz convention)
2.351 × 105
= ℏe − 1 a0− 2
χ, κ (Volume) magnetic pure # pure # pure # au (Gauss convention)
susceptibility χ ≡ M/H➔ ➔12.57 ➔12.57 9.17 × 10−2
iff B = μ0(H + M) = 4π = 4π = α4π
au (Lorentz convention)
➔12.57
= 4π
χ ≡M/H➔ SI :H m−1 1.579 × 10−5 au (Gauss convention)
iff B = μ0H + M = (4π)210−7 1.15 × 10−7
= α(4π)210−7
au (Lorentz convention)
1.579 × 10−5
= (4π)210−7
χ ρ, κ ρ Mass magnetic m3 kg−1 cm3 g−1 au (Gauss convention)
susceptibility 1.257 × 10−2 ➔0.5638
χ ρ ≡ χ/density = 4π10−3 = α4πme a0− 3
iff B = μ0(H + M) au (Lorentz convention)
➔77.24
= 4πme a0− 3
iff B = μ0H + M SI ’ : H m2 kg−1 cm3 g−1 au (Gauss convention)
1.579 × 10−8 7.085 × 10−10
= (4π)210−10 = α 4π 2 10 − 7 me a0− 3
au (Lorentz convention)
9.707 × 10−8
= 4π 2 10 − 7 me a0− 3
χ mol, κmol Molar magnetic m3 mol−1 cm3 mol−1 emu mol−1
susceptibility 10−6 1.257 × 10−5
iff B = μ0(H + M) = 4π10−6
iff B = μ0H + M SI :H m2 mol−1 emu mol−1
1.579 × 10−11
= (4π)210−13
μ Magnetic permeability H(enry) pure # au (Gauss convention)
μ ≡ B/H m−1 = Wb A−1 1.257 × 10−6 ➔1
m−1 = N A−2 = 4π10−7 au (Lorentz convention)
➔1
W Magnetic energy density J m−3 erg cm−3 hartree b−3
SI: W ≡ (1/2μ0)B2; cgs: ➔0.1 3.402 × 1014
W ≡ (1/8π)B2

For brevity a0 = Bohr radius = 5.292 × 10−11 m = 4πε0ℏ2m−1e−2. SI = Système International d’Unités = rationalized MKS = MKSC = MKSA = Giorgi
system; SI = small variation on SI used by some magneticians. “Rationalization” implies putting factors of 4π into the Maxwell equations and
removing them from the constitutive equations. Any quantity given in unrationalized cgs-esu (“esu”), unrationalized cgs-emu (“emu”), or unrationalized
au units is converted into SI units by multiplying the quantity by whatever follows the arrow “➔.” The au system used here is the “Hartree system”
(not the Rydberg system, nor the Planck system, nor the astronomical unit system). For the Hartree au of magnetism, two conventions exist: (i) the “Gauss”
or “wave” convention (inspired by cgs) requires that E and H in au have the same magnitude for electromagnetic waves in vacuo; (ii) the Lorentz
convention, which derives the magnetic field from the Lorentz force equation; the ratio between these units is the Sommerfeld fine-structure constant
α = 1/137.035 989 5.
a
William Gilbert (1544–1603).
Source: Jackson [1.29].
16 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

1.2 Force One: Gravitation

The gravitational force is the weakest force in nature, but it binds together the most massive bodies in the universe. The force
is in N(ewtons) in the SI system, and in dynes in the cgs system (see Table 1.2). This force can be rewritten in terms of a
vector gravitational field Φ1(r2) experienced by particle 2 at position r2, due to the existence of a particle 1 of mass m1 at
r1, and mediated by a continuous flow of virtual gravitons emanating from particle 1:

−3
Φ1 r 2 = Gm1 r 12 r 12 121

where r12 = r2 − r1. (By definition, a process is virtual when it involves a temporary violation of energy conservation.)
This gravitational field can be integrated once to yield the scalar gravitational potential energy U1:

U 1 = Gm1 r 1− 1 122

where the field is the negative gradient of the potential U1 evaluated at any “field point” r, e.g. r = r2 (except at the singular
position r = r1):

Φ1 = − ∇U 1 = − er ∂ ∂r U 1 123

where er is the unit vector in the radial direction. This potential energy is measured in joules, J (1 J ≡ 1 N m)10 in the SI
system, or in erg (1 erg ≡ 1 dyn cm) in the cgs system. We can also define the gravitational potential energy U12 as the
potential energy of the two-body system:

−1
U 12 = Gm1 M 2 r 12 124

What is mass? Six answers can be given:

1) as a proportionality constant between force and acceleration;


2) “gravitational mass” (Eq. (1.1.1));
3) “inertial mass”;
4) Einstein11 found an interdependence between mass m and energy E (1905):

E = mc2 125

within his special theory of relativity [1.8] (Section 1.11), which explained why the speed of light c through vacuum is con-
stant, validating the 1887 Michelson12–Morley13 experiment [1.9], which found a zero seasonal dependence of c and elimi-
nated the need for a “luminiferous ether” for the propagation of light. Equation (1.2.5) allows for the interconversion of mass
and energy: this is at the core of nuclear physics and stellar synthesis.

(5) Einstein’s general theory of relativity [1.10] allows for a curvature of the space-time continuum, which can lead to a
geometrical understanding of mass (Wheeler’s14 geometrodynamics [1.11]).
(6) Quantum mass: the rest masses of elementary particles cannot yet be predicted, but a Higgs15 boson has finally been
found in 2013: it may usher in a future theory to explain their masses.

Experimental searches are still continuing for free quarks and gluons.
Given the dearth of new results from high-energy scattering studies, high-energy physics has also turned to the cosmos for
clues: the current ΛCDM (lambda-cold dark matter) model of “big bang cosmology” estimates that of all matter in the uni-
verse: (i) 23% is dark matter (Zwicky16 proposed dark matter in 1933 to account for the gravitational stability of visible
galaxies); (ii) 73% is dark energy; (iii) 5% is “normal” (visible) matter.

10 James Prescott Joule (1818–1889).


11 Albert Einstein (1879–1955).
12 Albert Abraham Michelson (1852–1931).
13 Edward Williams Morley (1838–1923).
14 John Archibald Wheeler (1911–2008).
15 Peter Higgs (1929–).
16 Fritz Zwicky (1898–1974).
1.4 Force Four: Strong Force 17

A discussion of the second force (electrical AKA electromagnetic) is given in Section 1.9 after some necessary
mathematical concepts and tricks are reviewed.

Problem 1.2.1 Given the mass of the Earth Me = 5.977 × 1024 kg and its mean radius Re = 6371 km, verify that the
acceleration due to mean gravity at sea level at the Equator is

g = GM e Re− 2 = 9 780 m s − 2 126

1.3 Force Three: Weak Force

The classic example of the weak (or Fermi) force is β decay, in which a free neutron (0n1) decays within a half-life t1/2 of
10.2 minutes into a proton (1p1), an electron (e−), and an electron antineutrino νe :
1 1
0n 1p + e + v t1 2
= 10 2 m = 611 s 131
As explained in Chapter 6, a sample with N0 free neutrons at t = 0 will decay by first-order kinetics and will have only
N = N0 exp(−0.693 15t/t1/2) neutrons at time t. The half-life t1/2 in Eq. (1.3.1) is defined as the time needed for half of the
sample (here, of free neutrons) to have undergone the stated reaction; a second, longer, measure of “endurance” is the
mean lifetime τ which is defined by

τ = t1 2
ln e 2 = t 1 2
0 693 15 = 1 44t 1 2
132
3
The weak force is 10 times weaker than the electromagnetic force (Table 1.1). The particles carrying this interaction, the
W and Z vector bosons, are surprisingly massive (see Tables 1.2 and 1.3).
The positron(β+) is the antiparticle of the electron (e− or β−): same mass, same spin, but opposite charge. Antiparticles,
first discussed in the 1930s, seemed to be like members of an alternate universe (antiprotons, etc.) which may be symmet-
rical to the particle universe. However, when a positron (often emitted in nuclear decay) encounters an electron, it anni-
hilates very quickly to produce two photons of energy hν = 0.511 MeV each (pair elimination):
β + + β− 2hν 133
This reaction can also be run in reverse (pair production) either in air or also when a photon interacts with a nucleus:
2 hν β + + β− 134
There are also short-lived and negatively charged antiprotons. In the 1930s, it was presumed that there are equal numbers
of particles and antiparticles in the universe (which would annihilate each other upon mutual contact as in Eq. (1.3.3)). At
present, the guesses are shifting to smaller amounts of antimatter, but nobody really knows.
The Fermi force has a very narrow range (10−18 m). Many nuclei can undergo spontaneous β decay. Neutrinos (a name
given by Fermi) carry little mass, occur with great abundance in the universe, but are very difficult to detect (they often pass
through the mass of the Earth without deflection or detection). Huge tanks of liquid chlorinated hydrocarbons in deep
mines have been successfully tested for neutrino-induced formation of a few atoms of radioactive argon.
Many artificial radioisotopes undergo β decay. For instance, in the upper atmosphere, 6C14 is generated by cosmic rays
(neutron bombardment of 7N14) to yield a constant fraction of radioactive carbon in living matter by photosynthetic absorp-
tion of 6C14O2(1.3 × 10−12); it decays by β decay, with a half-life of 5730 years, into stable 7N14: this is the basis of Libby’s
archeological carbon-14 dating method [1.12]:

7N
14
+ 0 n1 from cosic ray shower 6C
14∗
β decay 7N
14 +
+ β − + νe 135

1.4 Force Four: Strong Force

Chemists are often content to ignore quarks and stay with the evidence accumulated by 1930 that electrically neutral atoms
of atomic number Z are made of Z protons (1p1), N neutrons (0n1), and Z electrons (e− or β−) (Table 1.13) and that these
subatomic particles are characterized by relative mass M, charge Q, spin (S for electron, I for proton and neutron), and half-
lives τ. Furthermore Q, S, and I are also “quantum numbers” (more about this later).
18 1 Fundamental Particles, Fundamental Forces, and Mathematical Tools

Table 1.13 Simplified table of elementary particles used in low-level chemistry courses: me = 9.109 389 7 × 10−31 kg is the electron
rest mass; ε = − 1.602 176 57 × 10−19 C is the charge on the electron.

Name Symbol Half-life t1/2 (s) Mass M (me) Charge Q (|ε|) Spin S or I

Electron e− or β− ∞ 1 −1 1/2
Proton 1p
1
∞ 1838 +1 1/2
1
Neutron 0n 611 1839 0 1/2

Physicists probed much further: between 1900 and 1960, a zoo of 100-odd stable and/or unstable elementary particles was
discovered; the shortest-lived among them were called “resonances” (Table 1.2). Quarks (Tables 1.2 and 1.3) were proposed
in 1964 by Zweig17 and Gell-Mann18 to establish order in this zoo. Within the nucleus, the inter-nucleon “strong” force was
traditionally thought of as being mediated by pions (themselves combinations of two quarks). The nuclear “shell model”
assigns quantum numbers to the protons and neutrons that have merged to form a certain nucleon. Certain “magic values”
of these nuclear quantum numbers explain why certain nuclei are more stable (have longer lives) than others.
Efforts to unify all four forces of Table 1.1 into a single grand unified theory have failed. All of eighteenth and nine-
teenth century mathematical physics was based on continua, on the solution of second-order partial differential equations
(PDEs), and on microscopic extensions of macroscopic Newtonian ideas of distance-dependent potentials. As we shall see,
classical mechanics, electrodynamics, and quantum mechanics (in its wave mechanical formulation) all have potential
energy functions U(r) which are some function of the inter-particle distance r. This works well if the particles themselves
are much smaller than the distances that typically separate them, and when experiments can test the distance dependence of
the potentials directly.
What are we to do when the range of the strong forces are so short (Table 1.1), of the order of magnitude of the presumed
particle sizes?
Much progress was made nevertheless. In 1960, electrical and weak forces were merged by Glashow19 into the electro-
weak theory. Evolving in the 1960s and 1970s from the quark hypothesis, Glashow, Weinberg,20 and Salam21 explained
nucleons and other particles (hadrons, baryons, and mesons) as unions of either three or two “quarks” each, with a new set
of ad hoc “quantum numbers” (charge Q, spin [S or I], parity [P], isospin [T], z-component of isospin [Tz], baryon number
[Ba], strangeness [St], charm [Ch], beauty or bottomness [By], and truth or topness [Tr]) [1.3] (Tables 1.2 and 1.3) which fit
within a finite special unitary group SU(3): all this was called quantum chromodynamics (QCD). An internal relation-
ship between these many seemingly “ad hoc” quantum numbers is the amended Gell–Mann–Nishijima22 relation:

Q = T z + Ba + St + Ch + By + Tr 2 141

Adding the electroweak theory to QCD and explaining gravity by positing a Higgs field bathing the whole universe, the
overall theory was named the Standard Model (outlined in Special Topic ST1.11): it unites three of the four fundamental
forces (strong, weak, and electromagnetic) into a single theory, but has no force field, and addresses gravitation only by
positing that moving particles acquire their masses by moving within this Higgs field. The discovery of the mediating Higgs
boson in 2012 (with a surprisingly large mass) validated the concept of a universal and pervasive Higgs field: how exactly
does it “create” masses? Remember that a universal luminiferous ether was discarded from electromagnetic theory more
than a century ago!

Sideline 1.5 We should always remember Newton’s stern warning: “Physica, cave metaphysicam” (=physicists,
beware of metaphysics) and Ockham’s23 “razor”: “entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem” (=fundamen-
tal assumed quantities should not be multiplied beyond necessity).

17 George Zweig (1937–).


18 Murray Gell-Mann (1929–2019).
19 Sheldon Glashow (1932–).
20 Steven Weinberg (1933–).
21 Mohammed Abdus Salam (1926–1996).
22 Kazuhiko Nishijima (1926–2009).
23 William of Ockham (c.1285–1348).
1.4 Force Four: Strong Force 19

Already, the existence of spin angular momentum forces us to consider quantization without potentials (see Chapter 2).
Perturbation expansions become funny, since the interaction is no longer smaller than a presumed over-riding field. When
the particles are too close, or the potential wells are too deep, then the old tricks do not seem to apply. What to do? Instead of
the four dimensions used in special relativity (x, y, z, and ct: see Section 1.11 below), string theory posits 17 dimensions, but
has produced no experimentally verifiable prediction to date: is it useful? Is it necessary?
The seemingly ex post facto arguments and numerous new quantum numbers in the Standard Model are reminiscent of
the situation in 1869, when chemical trends were used by Mendeleyeff to construct his epochal Periodic Table of chemical
elements: the mathematical explanation and vindication for the Periodic Table came with the Schrödinger24 equation
of 1926.

Sideline 1.6 Besides his chemical discovery, Mendeleyeff had helped his government in the design of weaponry.
Mendeleyeff divorced his wife in 1882 and married a student: by the rules of the Russian Orthodox Church, he
was a bigamist, and according to an Edict of the Russian Czar, only members of the Church in good standing could
teach in Russian Universities. When apprised of the dilemma, Czar Alexander III25 thought for a moment, then said:
“Prof. Mendeleyeff may have two wives, but I only have one Mendeleyeff”: Mendeleyeff kept his job!
Sideline 1.7 When the Nobel Prizes were initiated in 1901, Mendeleyeff was still alive: he was the obvious candidate
for the Chemistry prize: it did not happen because a jealous Svante Arrhenius26 was lusting for his own prize (which
he did get in 1916). Instead of Mendeleyeff, some nonentities were awarded the first few Chemistry Prizes. Many
other deserving scientists were neglected: the names of Gilbert Newton Lewis27 and Henry Eyring28 come to mind.
Therefore, this book will not highlight the Nobel prizes, which have honored many worthy recipients, but have
bypassed so many others.

Present guesses about the origin of the Universe suggest that matter and energy were all concentrated in a subnanoscopic
“singularity” at “t = 0,” the beginning of the Universe (about 14 billion years ago, see Problem 1.13.1). Within a very short
time (Planck time), the Big Bang explosion started the Universe, the four fundamental forces differentiated, and galaxies and
the oldest stars and planets were born.
Tables 1.2 and 1.3 list the presently known fundamental particles (along with unobserved quarks and three kinds of
neutrinos and antineutrinos), the elementary particles, and the observed particles (photon, vector bosons, Higgs boson,
graviton) and unobserved particles (gluons, some bosons) that mediate the interactions (strong, electromagnetic, weak, and
gravitational) between them. Here the term “fundamental” is used for the presumed building blocks, while the term “ele-
mentary” is reserved for the experimentally observed smallest constituents of matter. Recent work suggests that the three
kinds of neutrinos shown in Table 1.2 have small but differing rest masses (of the order of 10−3me) and that neutrino oscilla-
tions (interconversions) between their three types are possible.
The half-lives t1/2 or lifetimes τ can measured directly when τ ≥ 1.0 × 10−12 s or so. Shorter lifetimes (t < 1.0 × 10−12 s)
are inferred from measuring the “natural” or Breit29–Wigner30 or Lorentzian31 linewidth ΔE of their energy E (see Special
Topic ST1.1) and then using the Heisenberg32 uncertainty principle (discussed in Chapter 2).
Searches for individual quarks using high-energy accelerators have failed, up to rest-mass energies in vast excess of the
masses of the stable known leptons and hadrons. Searches for quarks in minerals and sea water, potentially left over when
hadrons and leptons first formed, and focused on their putative fractional electrical charge, have also failed. Therefore, an
explanation of “quark confinement” has emerged: quarks are confined by twos and threes in a very deep potential well
inside baryons and mesons (Figure 1.1), and are held together by forces so strong, that only maybe future high-energy accel-
erator experiments may (if ever) detect an individual quark. The sum of the estimated sum of the probable rest masses of one
u, one u, and one d quark, namely 4.6 + 4.6 + 16.0 = ~25.2me is far short of the rest mass of the proton (1836me); the remain-
ing 1811me are tentatively ascribed to the Einstein mass energy (Eq. (1.2.5)) of the gluon interchanging between quarks.

24 Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger (1887–1961).


25 Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov, Czar of All the Russias (1845–1894).
26 Svante August Arrhenius (1859–1927).
27 Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875–1946).
28 Henry Eyring (1901–1981).
29 Gregory Breit (1899–1981).
30 Eugene Paul Wigner = Jenö Pál Wigner (1902–1995).
31 Hendrik Antoon Lorentz (1853–1928).
32 Werner Heisenberg (1901–1976).
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“How can it be the same if it’s different?”
“Oh, well, it’s like a ball game I saw some time ago,” said Andy
dryly. “It was nine to nine in the first inning, and only three to five in
the last inning.”
“Nine to nine in the first inning and three to five in the last!” cried
Fred in perplexity. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, it was this way: There were nine players on each side in the
first inning, and they started——” And thereupon Andy dodged
quickly behind a signboard as Fred made as if to attack him while
the others laughed.
The four boys were walking along in the vicinity of the Union
Station when they saw somebody coming toward them. It was the
young man they had met while going for railroad tickets in New York.
“Well, of all things!” cried Joe Brooks, smiling. “You said you were
coming to Chicago, but I certainly didn’t expect to fall in with you
again.”
“Did you just get in?” questioned Fred.
“Got in a few hours ago. How are you enjoying yourselves in the
Windy City?”
“Oh, we’re getting along all right enough,” answered Jack. “We
have been around town quite a bit, and also out to the stock yards.”
“You aren’t staying in Chicago very long, I take it,” went on Joe
Brooks.
“We’ll leave to-morrow morning,” answered Randy.
Thereupon Joe Brooks started to tell them a somewhat lengthy
story of what had brought him to Chicago. He said that he was
traveling for a crockery house and hoped to catch one of his
customers that afternoon.
“It’s a rich concern and I’m hoping to land a big order, but I’ve got
to wait till five o’clock before I can see my man,” he went on. “So I’ve
got quite a little time on my hands. What are you fellows doing? I
might go along if you don’t mind,” and he smiled genially.
“We’re not doing much of anything,” answered Jack politely.
“Want me to show you around a little? I’ll be glad to do it. I’d do
almost anything for friends of Fatty Hendry. He and his relatives
have always treated me fine.”
Joe Brooks was a slick talker and before long he was walking with
the four Rover boys, pointing out various places of interest and also
pointing out different people as they passed either on foot or in
automobiles.
“There’s the mayor of this burg,” he declared as an auto flashed
past. “Great fellow he is, too. I had the pleasure of meeting him once
when I was here at a trade dinner. And that man walking on the other
side of the street over there is at the head of the schools here. A
great man. I understand he has made a small fortune out of spelling
books.”
“Is that so?” answered Andy. “Well, I don’t think I’ll ever make a
fortune out of spelling books,” and he grinned.
In the most casual manner possible Joe Brooks drew the boys out
until he got many of the particulars from them concerning their
proposed trip to Gold Hill Falls and Sunset Trail. Now that they were
so far on their trip, they did not consider it necessary to be as
secretive about it as before. Never for one minute did they suspect
that this young man knew Carson Davenport or had anything to do
with that scoundrel.
“You fellows ought to have the time of your lives out there around
Maporah,” said Brooks. “Gee, I wish I could go along! I’m sure it
would beat selling crockery all to pieces.”
“I certainly hope to have a splendid outing,” answered Jack.
“Well, I guess you have earned it. It’s hard work to graduate from
any school, and I suppose your studies were pretty stiff at that
military academy you and Fatty attended.”
“They were certainly stiff enough,” answered Randy.
“Going to be out there long?”
“A month at least, and maybe six or seven weeks,” answered
Fred. “We hope to have some good fishing, and maybe a little
hunting too.”
At half past four Joe Brooks excused himself, stating that he would
have to hunt up his customer before the man had a chance to get
away from him. He shook hands all around and again wished the
Rovers the best of luck.
“He’s a pretty good sort, seems to me,” said Fred.
“He certainly acted nice enough,” answered Andy.
“That’s what he did,” added his twin.
Jack said nothing. For some reason he could not fathom, the
strange young man had not altogether appealed to him. Yet, what
there was about Joe Brooks he did not like was something he could
not put into words.
Less than half an hour after Joe Brooks had left the Rover boys he
entered a hotel in one of the shabby sections of Chicago. Here he
fell in with Carson Davenport and a few minutes later the pair were
joined by two other men.
“Well, did you find out anything more?” questioned the man from
the oil fields.
“I think I’ve found out everything we want to know,” answered Joe
Brooks.
“Then you found out where they’re stopping?”
“Didn’t have to. I ran right into the four boys on the street.”
“Well, you certainly were lucky!”
“I hung around the station for three hours before that,” answered
Brooks. “At first I thought I’d call up the leading hotels by telephone;
but I was afraid that might look suspicious. So then I thought I’d go
out and take a look around. I didn’t expect to see them, and I only
thought I could fill in time until to-morrow morning, when they were to
take that train for which they bought accommodations in New York. I
thought maybe I could have a chance to talk to them before they left
and get a few particulars. But now I think I’ve got everything we
need.”
“Let’s go upstairs and talk it over,” said Carson Davenport. “No use
of letting anybody else in on this. There are too many open ears
around down here.”
Thereupon the four men took a rickety elevator to the fourth floor
of the hotel. They entered one of the rooms they had engaged and
all sat down to hear what Brooks had to say.
“They’re going straight to Maporah first,” said the young man.
“From there they are to take horses to Gold Hill Falls. After that the
boys expect to have a good time on Sunset Trail. They did not know
exactly where they would stay, but thought it would be in some place
engaged by a miner named Lew Billings.”
“Lew Billings!” exclaimed one of the other men. “I know him, all
right enough!”
“He’s one of the foremen at the Rolling Thunder mine, isn’t he,
Tate?” questioned Davenport.
“Yes,” answered Tate.
“We know all about Sunset Trail,” put in the other man of the party.
“Tate and I have gone over it many a time.”
“Well, that ought to help a whole lot, Jackson,” returned
Davenport, with satisfaction. “It’s just the place to put through a deal
like we have in mind, isn’t it?”
“Sure thing!” answered Jackson. “Couldn’t be better. Let us once
lay our hands on those kids, and I’ll defy anybody to get ’em away
from us.”
“The main thing is to keep out of their sight until our trap is
sprung,” went on Carson Davenport. “We mustn’t let them know
what we’re doing. But once let me get my hands on those boys, and
I’ll guarantee that I’ll make their fathers pony up good and plenty,” he
added, his eyes gleaming wickedly.
CHAPTER XVII
FOUR BOYS AND A BULL

When the Rover boys returned to Hans Mueller’s house they


found the twins’ father hard at work over a mass of papers.
“I saw that other stockholder,” said Tom Rover, in explanation. “He
is as much mystified as to what is taking place at the Rolling
Thunder mine as I am. He’ll follow us out there just as soon as he
can arrange certain business affairs here. He’s with me in
everything, and is going to help me bring those other fellows up with
a round turn.”
“It’s too bad that this whole business had to get into such a mix,
Uncle Tom,” declared Fred.
“For all I know, I may have to call on you boys to help me,”
answered the twins’ father. “From what Brother Dick told me, you did
very well in the oil fields, and you may have a chance to show your
mettle out in the gold fields.”
“Well, I’m ready to help you all I can, Uncle Tom,” cried Jack
quickly. “I’ll do anything you say.”
“The fun of the outing can wait,” declared Fred.
“Sure, it can wait, Dad!” cried Randy. “You just give the orders, and
we’ll fill ’em.”
“I wouldn’t mind running a gold mine for a day or two,” grinned
Andy. “It might give me a chance to fill my pockets with nuggets.”
“I want to warn you boys to be careful of what you say and what
you do when we get to the mining region,” answered Tom Rover.
“Some of the men out there are desperate characters and some are
very touchy. You say the wrong thing to a touchy man and he may
pull a gun on you.”
“Oh, we know enough to watch out,” answered Jack. “Just the
same, Uncle Tom, if we fellows can help you in any way, don’t you
hesitate to call on us.”
Early the following morning the Rovers bade farewell to Hans
Mueller, who had them taken to the railroad station.
“If I could only get avay already, I’d go mit you in a minute,”
declared the genial delicatessen dealer. “I haf not forgot what a good
time I haf ven I go to Big Horn Ranch dat time.”
“Yes, and what a dandy outing we did have, every one of us,”
declared Randy.
Soon the Rovers were aboard the train bound westward. As
before, they had a double section and proceeded to make
themselves as much at home as possible.
As the hours went by Tom Rover gave the boys some of the
particulars regarding his interview with the mine’s stockholders.
“There is a fellow at the mine named Garrish—Peter Garrish—who
is now in charge. He’s a promoter from Canada and an unusually
slick individual. From what I can make out, Garrish is going to do his
best to squeeze us out and put himself and his friends in complete
possession of the Rolling Thunder mine.”
“But you say you have your representative there—this old miner
named Lew Billings,” said Jack.
“So I have, Jack. But the trouble is, while Billings is a first-class
mining operator, he is rather deficient in education and knows little
about the legal aspects of affairs. On the other hand, Garrish was at
one time a lawyer and evidently knows the mining game from a legal
standpoint in all its details. For all I know, when it came to legal
matters he might be able to twist Billings around his finger.”
“Perhaps it would have been a good thing, Dad, if you had brought
a lawyer along,” suggested Randy.
“Before I left Chicago I had an interview with a lawyer who is
affiliated with our attorneys in New York. I arranged matters with him
so that if he is needed he’ll come on immediately to represent me.”
As the boys had traveled westward before, the trip was no great
novelty. Yet there were many interesting sights along the way, and
they did not tire of looking out of the windows or of spending hour
after hour on the observation platform of the last car.
“These open spaces are what get me,” declared Randy, stretching
out his arm in a semicircle. “Just look at the thousands and
thousands of acres of land that seem to be going to waste!”
“Yes, and then think of the thousands and thousands of people
who are huddling in the tenements of all of the big cities,” returned
Jack. “It seems all wrong, doesn’t it?”
“Well, I suppose a lot of those people want companionship,” came
from Fred. “And they wouldn’t get much of it if they were spread all
around this scenery.”
“I don’t believe I’ll ever want to settle down in the heart of a big
city,” said Andy thoughtfully. “Where we live isn’t so bad. We’ve got
plenty of air and a nice view of the Hudson River. But, just the same,
I’d rather rove around the open places. When I get down in one of
those narrow streets in lower New York, with the monstrous buildings
on both sides, I always feel shut in, just as if the whole thing was
going to tumble down on top of me.”
“You’d rather have a bungalow on the top of Pike’s Peak, wouldn’t
you, Andy?” laughed Jack.
“Perhaps. Although I think I’d prefer a bird’s nest on the top of the
north pole,” answered the fun-loving boy, with a grin.
The first day on the train passed without special incident. The boys
slept well, and the twins were glad to note that their father did
likewise.
“I guess dad is glad that Mr. Renton is going to act with him. You
know he represents a sixty-thousand-dollar interest, and that is a
good deal,” said Randy. Mr. Renton was the second stockholder Tom
Rover had called upon in Chicago.
At noon on the second day, which was the Fourth of July, came
something of an interruption. The whole party were at lunch in the
dining car when there came such a sudden halt that their coffee was
splashed all over the table.
“Wow!” exclaimed Andy. “Good-by, green corn!” he added, for an
ear of corn had rolled from his plate to the aisle of the car.
“We certainly stopped in a hurry,” declared Fred. “I wonder what is
the matter?”
“Maybe it’s a celebration,” suggested Randy.
The boys and Tom Rover finished their meal and then walked back
to the car where their sections were located. They found that a
number of the passengers had left the train, and from one of these
learned that there was trouble on a bridge just ahead.
“A freight that was crossing left the tracks, and they say it will take
an hour or more to clear up the muss,” explained one of the
passengers.
“Let’s go up ahead and take a look at things,” said Jack. “I’ll be
glad to stretch my legs.”
“I don’t think I’ll go,” returned Tom Rover. “While the train is
standing still I think I’ll try to catch a nap. You boys can go if you
want to. But keep out of trouble and don’t get left when the train
starts again.”
The spot was one where the road crossed a small stream. Along
this watercourse there was a fringe of trees and brushwood. The
land was comparatively level and covered with sage and prairie
grass.
Quite a crowd of people were collected at the front of the train, and
the boys soon saw what the trouble was. Two freight cars were off
the track and resting in just such a position that the other train could
not get by.
“They’ve sent for a wrecking crew and think they’ll be here inside
of half an hour,” said one of the men, in answer to the boys’
questions. “It won’t take them very long to straighten matters out
when once they get at work.”
Having viewed the wreck for several minutes, the boys saw a
footpath leading along the stream, and Andy suggested that they
take a short walk in that direction.
“I don’t know what state we’ll be walking in,” said the fun-loving
Rover. “But it will certainly be a state that suits me.”
“I’ll tell you what we might do, Andy,” suggested his brother, with a
twinkle in his eye. “You were saying something this morning about
missing your bath. What’s the matter with going in swimming here?”
“Gee, that would be an idea!” was the ready response. “Let’s do
it!”
“No, you don’t!” ordered Jack. “You don’t know a thing about that
stream in the first place. And in the second, how would you feel if
you were in the water and suddenly heard the train whistle to go
ahead?”
“I’d grab up my clothing and run,” answered Andy.
“Maybe you would and maybe you wouldn’t,” declared Fred. “I’d
like a swim myself. But I really don’t think we ought to risk it,” he
added.
It was very pleasant walking along the footpath bordering the river,
and the boys found several spots which in the past had evidently
been used for camping. They had vaulted a low fence, satisfied that
no one would interfere with their walk.
“Not a house in sight,” declared Jack, looking around. “And yet we
passed a fair-sized town just when we started to go to lunch.”
“This is some sort of a ranch, I take it,” returned Fred. “Aren’t
those cows further up the river?”
“Sure they’re cows!” declared Randy. “And a pretty big herd of
’em, too.”
“I understand cattle on the hoof is worth a good deal of money
these days,” went on Jack. “I’d like to own a few thousand cattle.”
“It must be a lot of fun rounding them up,” declared Andy.
“It isn’t so much fun though if the cattle try to round you up,”
answered Fred.
The boys walked on a little farther and then concluded that it
would be best to return to the train. They had just started to retrace
their steps when they heard a crashing in the brushwood behind
them. “Hello! who’s coming?” cried Fred.
“He must be in a tremendous hurry by the noise he’s making,”
came from Randy.
“Sounds to me like one of those cows,” announced Jack.
The sounds kept coming closer and presently through an opening
in the brushwood behind them the four boys saw a large beast come
into view.
“It isn’t a cow—it’s a bull!” exclaimed Fred.
“Yes, and he doesn’t look to be any too friendly,” answered Jack.
“Say, I don’t like this,” said Andy. “Looks to me as if that beast
might come for us.”
The boys continued on their way in the direction of the train and
the bull came after them. At first the beast eyed them with more
curiosity than anger. But presently he gave a bellow and started to
charge toward them.
“Look out! He’s coming for us!” yelled Jack. “Run for it,
everybody!”
No one needed any urging, and the four boys hurried down the
footpath as fast as they could go. The sudden flight of the lads
seemed to take the bull by surprise. His first charge came to a
sudden halt. Then, however, he let out another bellow and came
after them swifter than ever.
CHAPTER XVIII
A NARROW ESCAPE

“Run! Run!”
“He’s right behind us!”
“Maybe we’d better jump into the river!”
“Get behind the bushes,” suggested Jack. “He can’t get through as
quickly as we can! He’ll get himself all tangled up!”
One after another the Rover boys left the footpath and plunged
into the brushwood leading down to the stream. Then they came to a
clump of trees, several branches of which swung low, and Randy,
who was in advance, pulled himself up. The others, seeing the
move, followed. On and on came the bull, crashing through the
brushwood with scarcely an effort. Then, just as the last of the four
lads had pulled himself up into one of the trees, the enraged beast
gave a bellow and a snort and came to a stop just beneath them.
THE ENRAGED BEAST CAME TO A STOP BENEATH THEM.

“Gee, but that was a narrow escape!” gasped Randy, when he


could catch his breath.
“I’ll tell the world it was,” panted Fred. “Gosh! did you ever see
such a savage beast?”
“He was certainly willing to horn all of us,” answered Jack.
“Yes, and he’s still willing,” came from Andy as he looked
downward. “Hi! Get out of there!” he yelled, shaking his fist at the
bull. But this only made the beast bellow louder than ever. He
switched his tail and shook his head from side to side and then
glared viciously at the four boys.
“We’re in a pickle, if you ask me,” declared Fred, after a pause
during which the boys tried to regain their breath. “If that bull doesn’t
go away, how are we going to get back to the train?”
“Is that a question or a riddle?” queried Andy. “If it’s a riddle, I give
it up. This is sure a new sort of Fourth of July celebration.”
“If we only had a few rocks to throw at the bull perhaps we could
chase him away,” suggested Fred.
“Not that bull!” answered Jack. “He’s a real dyed-in-the-wool
monarch of the pasture. Just look at him! Why, he looks as if he was
thinking he might butt down the tree and get at us that way!”
The boys were certainly in a quandary. They had not only to act,
but to act quickly. Any moment they expected to hear the whistle of
the train preparatory to continuing the journey westward.
“We’ll be in a fine pickle if that train goes off,” groaned Andy.
“Yes, and what will dad think when he finds us missing?” added his
twin.
The tree the boys had climbed was a short, stocky affair, and
some of its branches intertwined with those of another tree standing
directly on the bank of the stream along which the lads had been
walking.
“Come on! I think I see a way out of this!” cried Jack. “Anyway, it
won’t hurt to try it!”
“What do you propose to do?” questioned Fred quickly.
“See that big tree? It leans right over the river and some of the
branches touch one of the trees on the other side.”
“Hurrah! That’s the thing to do!” burst out Randy. “I don’t believe
that bull will follow us across the stream.”
“I don’t think so myself. Anyway, we can try getting over. We won’t
be any worse off on that side of the water than we are on this.”
Jack led the way with all possible speed, and one after another his
cousins followed him. It was not difficult to get into the next tree; but
climbing out on the sloping trunk and then out on the limbs which
brushed those from the tree on the other side of the stream was not
so easy. Jack made the first swing and Andy followed. Then came
the other twin.
“Be careful, Fred!” yelled Jack, as he saw his cousin swing
downward.
He had scarcely spoken when there was a crack of wood as the
limb upon which the youngest Rover had depended snapped. But
Fred swung himself outward and then caught tight hold of a limb
below those upon which the others rested.
“Safe?” queried Jack eagerly.
“I—I guess so!” panted Fred. “Gee, but that was a close shave!”
“Listen!” called out Andy suddenly. “Isn’t that the locomotive
whistle?”
All stopped short. They heard the bellow of the bull that had been
left behind them, and then, loud and clear, came the whistle from the
locomotive near the bridge.
“They’re going to leave us behind!” groaned Fred.
“Come on—all of you!” yelled Jack. “I’ll go ahead and see if I can’t
stop the train some way.”
When looking at the wreck the oldest of the Rover boys had
noticed that after leaving the bridge the track curved slightly
northward in the direction in which they had been walking. Now,
forgetting the bull entirely, Jack clambered to the trunk of the tree,
slid down, and rushed through the brushwood and then out across
the field beyond to where he could see the distant tracks and
telegraph poles.
“I hope he makes it!” cried Andy, as he followed his cousin to the
ground.
“Look! Look! I think the bull is coming after us, after all!” yelled his
twin.
One after another the boys reached the ground. They glanced
back, to see that the bull had come down to the edge of the stream
and had even waded in up to his knees. But evidently the footing did
not please him, and there he remained, bellowing his defiance.
Jack had been in many cross-country runs and athletic contests,
but never had he sprinted faster than now. Over the prairie and
through the sage brush he tore, heading for the nearest point on the
railroad. As he went he pulled out his handkerchief and waved it
wildly, yelling as he did so.
The wreckage had been moved sufficiently to allow the limited to
pass, but the margin of safety was narrow, and the long line of
Pullmans had to proceed slowly. In the meantime the whistle and the
bell were kept going, so that the track might be kept clear of the
wrecking crew and any men who might be around belonging to the
freight train.
At last Jack was less than a hundred yards from the track. The
train had been coming slowly, but now, as the wreck was left behind,
the engineer increased the speed. Then Jack bounded on the track,
took off his coat and waved it wildly.
On and on came the train. Would it stop? Jack was almost afraid
his signal would not be heeded, for the great locomotive glided past
him, thundering loudly. Then the brakes were applied, and with a jerk
the long train slowed up.
“Hurrah! She’s stopped!” came from Fred, and in a few seconds
more the three Rover boys came up alongside of the young major.
As soon as the train halted the conductor had a porter open one of
the vestibule doors so that he might ascertain the cause of the new
delay. The train official saw the boys and could not help but grin as
they came up to him all out of breath.
“Almost got left, eh?” he said genially. “Well, it might have served
you right. You had no business to leave the train.”
“Are you all there?” came a voice from over the conductor’s
shoulder, and Tom Rover appeared, his face full of anxiety. “I’ve
been looking all over for you. I thought you might be on some other
part of the train.”
“We’re all here safe and sound, Dad,” answered Randy. “But we’ve
had one experience, believe me!”
“What kind of an experience?” questioned the conductor. And then
he added quickly: “Any more to come aboard?”
“No.”
“All right then, we’ll go ahead,” and the vestibule door was closed
again and the long train proceeded on its way.
Not only Tom Rover and the conductor but the porter and a
number of passengers listened with interest to the story the boys had
to tell. Quite a few laughed when they related how the bull had
wanted to horn them.
“You were lucky to get off so easily,” said Tom Rover. “And doubly
lucky that you weren’t left behind.”
“It was clever to think of crossing the stream from tree to tree,”
commented the conductor. “Bright idea! Of course, the bull might
have waded over, but that would have taken time.”
The boys went back to their sections and were content for the rest
of that Fourth of July to take it easy.
“Well, we had a touch of Western life right at the start,” remarked
Randy. “I suppose we’ve got to look for all sorts of things to happen
when we get out on Sunset Trail.”
“Oh, you mustn’t think the West is as wild as all that,” answered
Tom Rover. “Most of the wild things that are happening to-day are in
the movies. You may find things no more exciting at Gold Hill Falls
than in any coal-mining town in Virginia or Pennsylvania. With the
coming of men to those places, the wild animals have taken
themselves to the tall timber.”
“Oh, don’t spoil the outing, Uncle Tom!” cried Fred. “Why, we
expect to see bears and mountain lions and everything like that
before we go back!”
“All right then, Fred, go to it,” laughed his uncle. “Only don’t let the
bears and mountain lions see you first.”
By noon of the next day they had left the prairies behind and were
slowly but surely climbing the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Now
the character of the scenery changed, and the boys were gradually
impressed with the beauties of nature as unfolded to their vision.
“Here’s a regular scene for a painter,” said Jack presently, and he
pointed down into a deep valley where a river wound its way among
numerous bowlders. There was a small stretch of pasture land on
one side of the stream, and beyond was a mountain covered with
timber of various kinds.
It was at the next stop, reached about an hour later, that the Rover
boys caught their first sight of Indians. There was a reservation not a
great distance away, and a number of the redmen, along with their
squaws, had come down to the station to sell trinkets and to obtain
tips for allowing their photographs to be taken.
“That’s one way of getting into the pictures,” remarked Jack. “That
old Indian yonder said I could take his photograph shaking hands
with you other fellows for fifty cents apiece. What do you know about
that!”
“The old Indians don’t change much,” answered Tom Rover. “They
are out for any money they can get. Just the same, that old Indian
may have a son at college or on one of the big baseball teams.”
“I knew one of the Indian ball players,” said Fred proudly. “His
name was Big Knee, but they called him Joe Smith. He was a twirler
for a middle West team.”
It lacked but an hour to sunset when they arrived at Maporah. The
boys had expected to see quite a town, and were somewhat
disappointed when they saw only a dingy little station, a store and
post-office combined, and half a dozen tumbled-down dwellings.
“Hardly anybody lives around here,” explained Tom Rover. “It used
to be quite a center when the gold mines behind the town were in
operation. But as soon as they failed to pay, the town practically
went broke. But it’s the nearest station to Gold Hill Falls.”
Several days before Tom Rover had sent a telegraph to Lew
Billings, asking that individual to be on hand at the station with
saddle horses or some conveyance to take the whole party over to
Sunset Trail. He was therefore much disappointed when on alighting
from the train with the boys he saw nothing of the man from the
mine.
“I don’t understand this,” he said, after a look around. “He certainly
should have received my message.”
There was only a handful of men around the little station, and no
one but the Rovers had left the train. While Tom Rover was
deliberating on what to do next a strange man, a miner wearing a
flannel shirt, broad-brimmed hat, and with his trousers tucked in his
boots, strode up hesitatingly.
“Are you Mr. Rover?” he asked in rather a low voice.
“I am,” answered Tom.
“My name is Butts—Hank Butts. I work over at the Rolling Thunder
mine.”
“Is that so? Then, Butts, perhaps you can tell me where Lew
Billings is?”
For reply, and greatly to Tom Rover’s astonishment, the miner
leaned forward and whispered hoarsely:
“I can’t tell you that, partner. Lew disappeared two days ago, and
nobody seems to know what’s become of him.”
CHAPTER XIX
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LEW BILLINGS

“Lew Billings has disappeared!” exclaimed Tom Rover.


“Yes, partner. Teetotally and completely vamoosed, and nobody
knows where to,” answered the strange miner.
“Do you think he has been the victim of foul play?” went on the
father of the twins, his face showing his concern.
“I can’t say as to that. He left between two days, as the saying
goes. Nobody saw him go. That is, if they did see him they haven’t
mentioned it,” corrected Hank Butts.
“Did you come here to tell me this?”
“I did. You see, Lew and me have been partners for a good many
years. We went up to the Klondike together, and we also staked out
the Blue Daisy claim. Me and Lew was just like brothers. He told me
a little about what you expected to do when you got here, and told
me about when he expected you to arrive. That’s the reason I’ve
been on the lookout for you.”
“Did you say you’ve been working with Billings?”
“Not exactly. You know the mine is divided into two veins, the north
and the south. Lew always had charge up at the north end while I
work under a man named Haggerty at the south end. But we got
together quite often, just for the sake of old times,” went on Hank
Butts.
The boys listened with much interest to this conversation and
continued to listen when Butts explained more in detail concerning
the mysterious disappearance of Lew Billings. He said that Billings
and the manager at the mine, Peter Garrish, had had a hot
discussion over certain matters concerning the way the work was

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