Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Ultrafast Electron Diffraction of Transient [Fe(CO)4 ]: Determination of Molecular Structure and Reaction Pathway
Hyotcherl Ihee1, Jianming Cao1, Ahmed H Zewail1
1Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Arthur Amos Noyes Laboratory of Chemical Physics California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 91125 (USA) Fax: (+1) 626-796-8315.
Abstract:
The temporal diffraction-difference approach of the ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) technique was used to determine the molecular structure of the transient [Fe(CO)4 ] formed during the elimination of CO ligands from [Fe(CO)5 ]. The results clearly show that the major product, up to 200 ps, is the transient [Fe(CO)4 ] which is formed in the 1 A1 state, rather than the ground 3 B2 state.
Related Concept Videos
Determining Order of Reaction
Lewis Structures of Molecular Compounds and Polyatomic Ions
Interference and Diffraction
Molecular Structure and Acidity
The size effect explains the change in atomic size on acidity. When comparing the acids formed from elements that belong to the same column in the periodic table, their atomic sizes...
Electronic Structure of Atoms
An atom comprises protons and neutrons, which are contained inside the dense, central core called the nucleus, with electrons present around the nucleus. Taking into account the wave–particle duality of electrons and the uncertainty in position around the nucleus, quantum mechanics provides a more accurate model for the atomic structure. It describes atomic orbitals as the regions around the nucleus where electrons of discrete energy exist, characterized by four quantum...
Acid Strength and Molecular Structure
In the absence of any leveling effect, the acid strength of binary compounds of hydrogen with nonmetals (A) increases as the H-A bond strength decreases down a group in the periodic table. For group 17, the order of increasing acidity is HF < HCl < HBr < HI. Likewise, for group 16, the order of increasing acid strength is H2O < H2S < H2Se < H2Te. Across a row in the periodic table, the acid strength of binary hydrogen compounds increases with increasing...

