In the experiment shown schematically below, a beam of
neutral atoms is passed through a magnetic field. Atoms that
have unpaired electrons are deflected in different directions
in the magnetic field depending on the value of the electron
spin quantum number. In the experiment illustrated,
we envision that a beam of hydrogen atoms splits into two
beams. (a) What is the significance of the observation that the single beam splits into two beams? (b) What do you think
would happen if the strength of the magnet were increased?
(c) What do you think would happen if the beam of hydrogen
atoms were replaced with a beam of helium atoms? Why?
(d) The relevant experiment was first performed by Otto
Stern and Walter Gerlach in 1921. They used a beam of Ag
atoms in the experiment. By considering the electron configuration
of a silver atom, explain why the single beam splits
into two beams.
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