CCL: And now something completely different!

["N. Sukumar" <nagams(~)rpi.edu>]

 Sent to CCL by: "N. Sukumar" [nagams*rpi.edu]
 On Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:05:11 EDT "Kalju Kahn kalju^chem.ucsb.edu"
 wrote:
 Coming back to where it all started, I see nothing wrong with using
 oversimplified models with general audience in mind...
 Best wishes,
 Kalju
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Working chemists use oversimplified models all the time: e.g. molecular
 orbitals, pushing electrons with arrows, harmonic oscillators,
 hard-sphere or ribbon molecular models, ... The crucial point is: do we
 recognize the limitations and domains of applicability of these
 oversimplified models? Often pushing an analogy beyond reasonable limits
 reinforces misconceptions, which can take years to dispel. Herein lies
 the danger. What does it mean to show more than one pair of
 "electrons"
 to be dancing in the same "orbit"? What does it mean to show a
 "electron-photon" pair dancing in an "orbit"?
 Dr. N. Sukumar
 Rensselaer Exploratory Center for Cheminformatics Research
 http://reccr.chem.rpi.edu/