Quantum mechanical atom models, legitimate explanations and mechanisms
- Author
- Erik Weber (UGent) , Merel Lefevere (UGent) and Kristian G. Barman (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- The periodic table is one of the best-known systems of classification in science. Because of the information it contains, it raises explanation-seeking questions. Quantum mechanical models of the behaviour of electrons (which describe an electron configuration for each kind of atom) may be seen as providing explanations in response to these questions. In this paper we first address the question 'Do quantum mechanical models of atoms provide legitimate explanations?' Because our answer is positive, our next question is 'Are the explanations provided by quantum mechanical models of atoms mechanistic explanations?'. This question is motivated by the fact that in many scientific disciplines, mechanistic explanations are abundant. Because our answer to the second question is negative, our last question is 'What kind of explanation do quantum mechanical models of atom provide?' By addressing these questions, we shed light on the nature of an important type of chemical explanation.
- Keywords
- Mechanistic explanation, Periodic table regularities, Physical dependency, Structural explanation, Unification, HIGH-FREQUENCY SPECTRA
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8717277
- MLA
- Weber, Erik, et al. “Quantum Mechanical Atom Models, Legitimate Explanations and Mechanisms.” FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY, vol. 23, no. 3, 2021, pp. 407–29, doi:10.1007/s10698-021-09408-5.
- APA
- Weber, E., Lefevere, M., & Barman, K. G. (2021). Quantum mechanical atom models, legitimate explanations and mechanisms. FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY, 23(3), 407–429. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-021-09408-5
- Chicago author-date
- Weber, Erik, Merel Lefevere, and Kristian G. Barman. 2021. “Quantum Mechanical Atom Models, Legitimate Explanations and Mechanisms.” FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY 23 (3): 407–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-021-09408-5.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Weber, Erik, Merel Lefevere, and Kristian G. Barman. 2021. “Quantum Mechanical Atom Models, Legitimate Explanations and Mechanisms.” FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY 23 (3): 407–429. doi:10.1007/s10698-021-09408-5.
- Vancouver
- 1.Weber E, Lefevere M, Barman KG. Quantum mechanical atom models, legitimate explanations and mechanisms. FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY. 2021;23(3):407–29.
- IEEE
- [1]E. Weber, M. Lefevere, and K. G. Barman, “Quantum mechanical atom models, legitimate explanations and mechanisms,” FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 407–429, 2021.
@article{8717277,
abstract = {{The periodic table is one of the best-known systems of classification in science. Because of the information it contains, it raises explanation-seeking questions. Quantum mechanical models of the behaviour of electrons (which describe an electron configuration for each kind of atom) may be seen as providing explanations in response to these questions. In this paper we first address the question 'Do quantum mechanical models of atoms provide legitimate explanations?' Because our answer is positive, our next question is 'Are the explanations provided by quantum mechanical models of atoms mechanistic explanations?'. This question is motivated by the fact that in many scientific disciplines, mechanistic explanations are abundant. Because our answer to the second question is negative, our last question is 'What kind of explanation do quantum mechanical models of atom provide?' By addressing these questions, we shed light on the nature of an important type of chemical explanation.}},
author = {{Weber, Erik and Lefevere, Merel and Barman, Kristian G.}},
issn = {{1386-4238}},
journal = {{FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY}},
keywords = {{Mechanistic explanation,Periodic table regularities,Physical dependency,Structural explanation,Unification,HIGH-FREQUENCY SPECTRA}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{407--429}},
title = {{Quantum mechanical atom models, legitimate explanations and mechanisms}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-021-09408-5}},
volume = {{23}},
year = {{2021}},
}
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