Question:medium

Rotational spectrum of a diatomic molecule consists of lines of equal spacing with an interval of \(20.0\text{ cm}^{-1}\). Its moment of inertia is found to be \(I_0 \times 10^{-47}\text{ kg.m}^2\), the value of \(I_0\) (rounded off to one decimal place) is ______.
(\(h = 6.6 \times 10^{-34}\text{ J.s}\), speed of light in vacuum \(c = 3 \times 10^8\text{ m.s}^{-1}\))

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Hint:
The spacing between adjacent rotational lines equals \(2B_e\), and \(B_e = h/(8\pi^2 c I)\). Use \(c\) in cm/s since the spacing is given in \(\text{cm}^{-1}\).
Updated On: Jul 28, 2026
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Correct Answer: 2.8

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall how rotational lines are spaced.
In the rigid rotor model, the pure rotational absorption lines of a diatomic molecule sit at $\tilde{\nu}_J = 2B_e(J+1)$ for $J=0,1,2,...$, so any two neighbouring lines are separated by exactly $2B_e$, a constant independent of $J$. This is why the spectrum shows evenly spaced lines.

Step 2: Write the spacing directly in terms of I.
Since $B_e = h/(8\pi^2 c I)$, the spacing itself can be written directly in terms of the moment of inertia, without solving for $B_e$ as a separate number:
\[ \Delta\tilde{\nu} = 2B_e = \frac{h}{4\pi^2 c I} \]

Step 3: Solve for I.
Rearranging:
\[ I = \frac{h}{4\pi^2 c\, \Delta\tilde{\nu}} \]
This single expression uses the measured line spacing directly, so there is no need to compute $B_e$ as an intermediate step.

Step 4: Substitute the numbers.
With $h = 6.6\times 10^{-34}$ J.s, $c = 3\times 10^{10}$ cm/s (converted to cm/s since $\Delta\tilde\nu$ is in $\text{cm}^{-1}$), and $\Delta\tilde\nu = 20.0\ \text{cm}^{-1}$:
\[ I = \frac{6.6\times 10^{-34}}{4\pi^2 \times 3\times 10^{10}\times 20.0} = \frac{6.6\times 10^{-34}}{2.369\times 10^{13}} = 2.79\times 10^{-47}\text{ kg.m}^2 \]

Final Answer:
Rounded to one decimal place, $I_0 = 2.8$. \[ \boxed{I_0 = 2.8} \]
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