Transitions Associated with Microwave Radiation
- Molecules and atoms can absorb light particles (photons)
- When they absorb light, the molecule or atom is promoted to an excited state
- Infrared photons have low energy
- When photons of microwave radiation are absorbed the rotational behavior of a molecule is stimulated
- Therefore, the molecule is promoted to an excited rotational state
- The different rotational axis of a molecule can be analyzed by thinking atoms as points in a 3-dimensional system of coordinates
- A rotation will change the orientation of the molecule
- The orientation will depend on the frequency of the photon with microwave radiation that is absorbed
Rotational axis in a water molecule
Different rotational axis in a water molecule
- One of the most used examples regarding excited rotational states is the use of the microwave oven
- The microwave oven transfer rotational energy to the water molecules in your food