Schrödinger Wave Equation
The fundamental equation of quantum mechanics whose solutions give the allowed energies and wavefunctions of a system.
Formula / equation
Ĥψ = Eψ
Unit
J
In depth
Solving it for the hydrogen atom yields the three quantum numbers n, l and mₗ naturally, rather than by postulate as in the Bohr model. Exact solutions exist only for one-electron systems, so multi-electron atoms and molecules require approximations such as the Hartree–Fock and density functional methods.
Examples in the real world
Its hydrogen solutions predict the 1s, 2s and 2p orbital shapes and reproduce every observed spectral line.