Tunnel Vision
By Dean J. Tantillo
In outer space and within living cells, quantum mechanics allows molecules to take mind-bending journeys that would be impossible by the rules of classical physics.
This Article From Issue
September-October 2021
Volume 109, Number 5
Page 274
If you’re out for a stroll and reach a hill, the most obvious paths to the other side are over or around. But under the right set of circumstances—such as when there’s a convenient tunnel—sauntering through can be the simplest path forward.
QUICK TAKE
- In tunneling reactions, molecules follow quantum mechanical rules rather than classical ones to travel through energy barriers rather than climbing over them.
- Molecules use heat energy to vibrate, which allows them to travel over energy barriers. Therefore, tunneling reactions are more likely to dominate under extremely cold conditions.
- Tunneling probability increases for reactions that involve small structural changes, such as moving a tiny hydrogen atom within a large complex molecule.
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