alt.sci.physics

Thanks! So, is the method by which an element's properties can be predicted
by quantum mechanics something that could be outlined simply for the layman,
or does it require a level of understand of QM in order for it to make any
sense?

And my real follow-up question: Can quantum mechanics also predict the
properties of multi-element materials such as alloys, chemicals or
compounds?

What I'm getting at is this: presuming there is a computer powerful enough
to crunch the math, would it be possible to simply enter in the required
properties of a material (such as hardness, tensile strength, melting point,
reactivity) and have it pop out a list of recipes for previously-unknown
substances which would have those properties?

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> Yes, in principle the properties can be predicted from quantum
> mechanics. I know it's been done for some of them, probably all of
> them, and that some properties of undiscovered elements have been
> predicted. Although they all have such short lifetimes that things
> like melting points and crystal structures may not have much meaning.
>
> Half-lives have been predicted for many undiscovered elements and they
> identified an 'island of stability' up there somewhere. I don't think
> this has actually been observed yet.
>
> Trying to find patterns in the periodic table is a pretty retarded way
> to do it unless you know the reasons for them and that they'll
> continue to where you're looking.
>
>
> On Oct 2, 12:31 pm, "Ernie Sty" wrote:
>> Is it possible to make ballpark guesses as to the properties of elements
>> which exist in such small amounts they can't be tested?
>>
>> In other words, we know how the hydrogen atom is put together, and we
>> know
>> the melting point, boiling point and density of hydrogen. The same can
>> be
>> said of all the elements which exist in amounts large enough to test.
>>
>> Is there any rhyme or reason as to what properties an element will have
>> based on the structure of its atom? In other words, since we know the
>> atomic structure of ununoctium, can reasonably accurate guesses be made
>> about its properties as a material?
>