https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.a.000
Published: Kem. Ind. 50 (7-8) (2001) 421–426
Paper reference number: n/a
Paper type: Review / History of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
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Quantum Theory in Chemistry – Early Developments

N. Trinajstić+

Abstract

The beginnings of quantum theory, and the main group of phycisists responsible for its early development, are briefly mentioned. The birthday of quantum chemistry is considered to be June 30, 1927 when the Editor (Karl Scheel) of Zeitschrift für Physik received the manuscript by Walter Heitler and Fritz London, who used the Schrӧdinger equation to study the electronic structure of a hydrogen molecule cation and a hydrogen molecule and introduced exhange forces between atoms as responsible for forming the chemical bond (there are also other views regarding the birthday of quantum chemistry). First quantum chemists, their contributions and first books on quantum chemistry are briefly mentioned. Early development of quantum chemistry is succinctly reviewed.

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Keywords

quantum chemistry, quantum theory, molecular orbital (MO) theory, valence bond (VB) theory