Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-a-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2024/paper-1/a3/b/ii/solution

The strong band is , while the weak band is the first vibrational overtone . Let and . Subtracting the Morse oscillator levels gives
Twice the fundamental is , slightly above the overtone because the higher vibrational gap is smaller. Eliminate :
so
The implied dimensionless anharmonicity constant is . The overtone's weakness follows from its being forbidden in the leading harmonic/linear-dipole model, rather than a lack of population in its lower state.

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