What is an ill-posed inverse problem? The answer to this question is the main objective of the present paper and the pre-requisite to follow the material requires only elementary calculus. The first mathematical formulation of an inverse problem, due to N. H. Abel, together with the fundamental work by Jacques Hadamard, are explored at the beginning of the paper. A prototype system is used to consider the regularization concept. Three numerical methods, the Tikhonov regularization, the decomposition into singular values and the Hopfield neural networks, applied to remove the singularity are examined. General aspects of the ill-posed inverse problems in chemistry with emphasis in thermodynamics and a set of general rules for other areas of science are also analyzed.

In this work, a simple derivation of the variable amplitude method using the variation of parameters to solve a differential equation is presented. The variable amplitude method was originally devised by Tikochinsky in 1977, using the quantum theory of scattering. The method is applied to two model potentials, the rectangular potential barrier and the Eckart potential, both with analytical solutions for the reflection coefficient. Numerical results will be compared with the exact values for several energies. The problem of calculating the reflection coefficient, usually involving extensive algebra as described in several textbooks, is reduced to solving a first order differential equation with initial condition. The method is very simple to apply, representing an attractive tool for teaching introductory quantum mechanics. A simple computer code is available from which reflection coefficients for the Eckart potential can be calculated.

Este trabalho concentra-se no cálculo do segundo coeficiente virial quântico, a partir de um potencial desenvolvido recentemente. Este coeficiente foi determinado com 4-5 algarismos significativos na faixa de temperatura de 3 a 100 K. Nossos resultados estão dentro do erro experimental. Três contribuições para o valor total deste coeficiente são o espalhamento quântico (contribuição de estados no contínuo), o estado ligado (contribuição de estados discretos) e o gás ideal quântico; discutimos estas contribuições separadamente. A contribuição mais importante é do espalhamento quântico, enquanto que as contribuições menores são dos estados discretos. Uma análise da sensibilidade foi realizada em função da temperatura para um parâmetro na região de curto alcance do potencial e para três parâmetros na região de longo alcance do potencial. Para ambas as temperaturas consideradas, 10 e 100 K, o coeficiente de dispersão C6 foi o mais significativo, e o termo dispersão C10 foi o menos significativo para o resultado total. Em geral, a precisão exigida para descrever os potenciais diminui com o aumento da temperatura. A precisão total e a relação dos parâmetros com os erros experimentais são discutidas.

This paper focuses on the calculation of the quantum second virial coefficient, under a recently developed potential. This coefficient was determined to within 4-5 significant figures in the temperature range from 3 to 100 K. Our results are within experimental error. The three contributions to the overall value of the coefficient are the quantum scattering (continuum state contribution), the bound state (discrete state contribution) and the quantum ideal gas; we discuss these contributions separately. The most significant contribution is from the scattering states, whereas the smaller contributions are from the discrete states. A sensitivity analysis was performed as a function of temperature for one parameter in the short-range region of the potential and for three parameters in the long-range regions of the potential. For both temperatures considered, 10 and 100 K, the C6 dispersion coefficient was the most significant, and the C10 dispersion term was the least significant to the overall result. In general, the precision required to describe the potential decays as the temperature increases. The overall accuracy and the relationship of the parameters to the experimental errors are discussed.

A hundred years ago, a twenty-eight year old Danish scientist published a series of three papers in which electron motion was quantized. The Bohr atomic model is surely known by every chemistry student. Nevertheless in this same 1913 trilogy, Bohr studied atoms with several electrons as well as molecules. Chemistry students, in general, are not aware of the Bohr molecule. The present paper aims at rescuing this important classical model. A review of the Bohr atomic model for both one and several electrons is discussed, together with a theoretical presentation of the Bohr molecule.

Analytical solutions of a cubic equation with real coefficients are established using the Cardano method. The method is first applied to simple third order equation. Calculation of volume in the van der Waals equation of state is afterwards established. These results are exemplified to calculate the volumes below and above critical temperatures. Analytical and numerical values for the compressibility factor are presented as a function of the pressure. As a final example, coexistence volumes in the liquid-vapor equilibrium are calculated. The Cardano approach is very simple to apply, requiring only elementary operations, indicating an attractive method to be used in teaching elementary thermodynamics.