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IMPERIAL COLLEGE PRESS eBooks

The Recently Claimed Observation of Atomic Orbitals and Some Related Philosophical Issues

Eric R. Scerri

Published Jun 1, 2008• 3 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1142/9781848161382_0012

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The Recently Claimed Observation of Atomic Orbitals and Some Related Philosophical Issues

Eric R. Scerri

The main thrust of the paper involves a theoretical and philosophical analysis of the claim made in September 1999 that atomic orbitals have been directly imaged for the first time. After a brief account of the recent claims the paper reviews the development of the orbit and later orbital concepts and analyzes the theoretical status of atomic orbitals. The conclusion is that contrary to these claims, atomic orbitals have not in fact been observed. The non-referring nature of modern atomic orbitals is discussed in the context of Laudan's writings on realism, the success of theories, and whether or not scientific terms refer. I conclude that the failure to observe orbitals is a good prima facie case for divorcing the success of theories from the question of whether their central terms refer. The added relevance of this case is that it concerns a current and highly successful theory. Finally, the relevance of this ‘floating model’ to contemporary discussions on scientific models is briefly considered.

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The aim of the present paper is to analyze the problem of the relationship between\nchemistry and physics, by focusing on the widely discussed case of the atomic orbitals.\nWe will begin by remembering the difference between the physical and the chemical interpretation\nof the concept of orbital. Then, we will refer to the claim made in 1999 that\natomic orbitals have been directly imaged for the first time. On this basis, we will analyze\nthe problem from a new approach, by comparing the concept of orbital used in physics with\nthe concept of orbital used in chemistry. Such an analysis will allow us to argue for an ontological\npluralism that admits the coexistence of different ontologies without priorities or\nmetaphysical privileges. From this philosophical framework, the concepts of chemical orbital\nand physical orbital correspond to two different ontologies. As a consequence, chemical orbitals\nare real entities belonging to the ontology of molecular chemistry, and can be observed\nlike any other entity not belonging to the quantum mechanical ontology.

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The four antinomies of Zeno of Elea, especially Achilles and the tortoise continue to be provoking issues which are even now not always satisfactory solved. Aristotle himself used this antinomy to develop his understanding of movement: it is a fluent continuum that has to be treated as a whole. The parts, if any, are only potentially present in the whole. And that is exactly what quantum mechanics is claiming: movement is quantized in contrast to classical mechanics. The objective of this study is to show the merits of the Aristotelian approach. It is a good candidate for serving as the philosophical background for understanding fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. Especially mentioned are the influence of the final state in quantum mechanics that in philosophy could be correlated with the final cause. Like in the work of Aristotle also in this study examples from science are presented to illustrate the philosophical approach. But, in contrast to ancient Greek, the examples now relate to issues which are only fully accessible to the scientifically trained reader. As the main conclusion the dialogue between scientists and philosophers is strongly recommended which will result in progress in both disciplines.

•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations
The main thrust of the paper involves a theoretical and philosophical analysis of the claim made in September 1999 that atomic orbitals have been directly imaged for the first time. After a brief account of the recent claims the paper reviews the development of the orbit and later orbital concepts and analyzes the theoretical status of atomic orbitals. The conclusion is that contrary to these claims, atomic orbitals have not in fact been observed. The non-referring nature of modern atomic orbitals is discussed in the context of Laudan's writings on realism, the success of theories, and whether or not scientific terms refer. I conclude that the failure to observe orbitals is a good prima facie case for divorcing the success of theories from the question of whether their central terms refer. The added relevance of this case is that it concerns a current and highly successful theory. Finally, the relevance of this ‘floating model’ to contemporary discussions on scientific models is briefly considered.
The aim of the present paper is to analyze the problem of the relationship between\nchemistry and physics, by focusing on the widely discussed case of the atomic orbitals.\nWe will begin by remembering the difference between the physical and the chemical interpretation\nof the concept of orbital. Then, we will refer to the claim made in 1999 that\natomic orbitals have been directly imaged for the first time. On this basis, we will analyze\nthe problem from a new approach, by comparing the concept of orbital used in physics with\nthe concept of orbital used in chemistry. Such an analysis will allow us to argue for an ontological\npluralism that admits the coexistence of different ontologies without priorities or\nmetaphysical privileges. From this philosophical framework, the concepts of chemical orbital\nand physical orbital correspond to two different ontologies. As a consequence, chemical orbitals\nare real entities belonging to the ontology of molecular chemistry, and can be observed\nlike any other entity not belonging to the quantum mechanical ontology.
The four antinomies of Zeno of Elea, especially Achilles and the tortoise continue to be provoking issues which are even now not always satisfactory solved. Aristotle himself used this antinomy to develop his understanding of movement: it is a fluent continuum that has to be treated as a whole. The parts, if any, are only potentially present in the whole. And that is exactly what quantum mechanics is claiming: movement is quantized in contrast to classical mechanics. The objective of this study is to show the merits of the Aristotelian approach. It is a good candidate for serving as the philosophical background for understanding fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. Especially mentioned are the influence of the final state in quantum mechanics that in philosophy could be correlated with the final cause. Like in the work of Aristotle also in this study examples from science are presented to illustrate the philosophical approach. But, in contrast to ancient Greek, the examples now relate to issues which are only fully accessible to the scientifically trained reader. As the main conclusion the dialogue between scientists and philosophers is strongly recommended which will result in progress in both disciplines.