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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Rotational constant, isotopologue?

Also known as: rotational constant · isotopologue

Definition 6.1 University Chemistry — Year 3 · Chapter 6 — Rotational and Vibrational Spectroscopy

The rotational constant of a linear molecule is B=h/(8π2cI)B = h/(8\pi^2cI), in cm−1\mathrm{cm}^{-1} (or B=h/8π2IB = h/8\pi^2I in hertz), so that its rotational levels are F(J)=BJ(J+1)F(J) = BJ(J+1) in wavenumbers. Molecules that differ only in the isotopes of their atoms are isotopologues (X12X2212CX16X2216O\ce{^{12}C^{16}O}, X13X2213CX16X2216O\ce{^{13}C^{16}O}); in the Born–Oppenheimer approximation they share the same bond lengths and force constants.

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