Electrostatics at the Molecular Level

Download or read book Electrostatics at the Molecular Level written by Ulrich Zürcher and published by Morgan & Claypool Publishers. This book was released on 2018-10-24 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Electrostatic forces are essential for the hierarchical structure of matter: electrons are bound to the atomic nucleus by electrostatic forces; atoms carry (partial) charges and ions with opposite charges attract and form (chemical) bonds. Small residual electrostatic forces between molecules allow them to form macroscopic structures such as crystals. Electrostatic interactions explain pseudo-forces used in popular computer programs used to model properties of atoms, molecules, and proteins. By beginning with the basics and then diving deeper into the topic, this book aims to familiarize the reader with electrostatic forces at the atomic and molecular level.