Molecules collide with one another in all three states.Do molecules vibrate independently of collisions?

Question

That is, if one isolated a single molecule and suspended it in the middle of a vacuum with some kind of magnetic fields, would the molecule still vibrate despite not colliding with other particles? That is, is vibration inherent of all molecules even those that are isolated from other matter?

When I think of browmian motion, I think of molecules that are moving as a result of elastic collisions with other particles. Yet do the particles vibrate independently of intermolecular collisions. Please explain my above scenario in the vacuum suspendended above the ground.


Thanks so much to all the people who take precious time out of their days to help me understand my questions!

Answer 1

Molecules have vibration which is a motion around their mean position and this happens in solid state. In liquids and gases, molecules move from one place to another through elastic collisions. In liquids, this is observed as the Brownian motion. Both vibration and motion are dependent on temperature. Temperature is normally the average kinetic energy of a molecule.

Your question about a single molecule supended in isolation is indeed very good. When only one molecule is considered, can we talk of average kinetic energy? If we cannot, what will be the temperature of that molecule, when it is suspended in vacuum and is stationery? Will the atoms continue to vibrate or not? Since a molecule contains more than one atom and some bond is involved in the formation of a molecule, can we still say that the atoms will continue to vibrate about their mean positions and the bond works like a spring?

I am inclined to say yes.

Answer 2

Molecules vibrate regardless of collisions, this is called heat. The only time the vibration ceases is at absolute zero.

Answer 3

♦ a single molecule in vacuum will not vibrate like a brown particle, it will move just in linear trajectory! It will behave like a jelly drop; clear?

Answer 4

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