Abstract

The solution of Schroedinger's equation for the normal hydrogen molecule is approximated by the function C[e^{-z(r₁+p₂)a}+e^{- z(r₂+p₁)a}] where a=h²4π²me², r₁ and p₁ are the distances of one of the electrons to the two nuclei, and r₂ and p₂ those for the other electron. The value of Z is so determined as to give a minimum value to the variational integral which generates Schroedinger's wave equation. This minimum value of the integral gives the approximate energy E. For every nuclear separation D, there is a Z which gives the best approximation and a corresponding E. We thus obtain an approximate energy curve as a function of the separation. The minimum of this curve gives the following data for the configuration corresponding to the normal hydrogen molecule: the heat of dissociation = 3.76 volts, the moment of inertia J₀=4.59×10^-41 gr. cm², the nuclear vibrational frequency ν₀=4900 cm^-1.