Electron Configuration

Front

What is electron configuration?

Back

Electron configuration is the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals, described by a series of numbers and letters that indicate the energy levels and sublevels occupied by electrons.

Front

What does the notation '1s^2' represent in electron configuration?

Back

The notation '1s^2' indicates that there are 2 electrons in the 1s orbital, which is the lowest energy level.

Front

How do you determine the total number of electrons in an atom from its electron configuration?

Back

The total number of electrons can be determined by adding the superscripts in the electron configuration, which represent the number of electrons in each orbital.

Front

What is the correct order of filling orbitals according to the Aufbau principle?

Back

The correct order of filling orbitals is: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p.

Front

What is the significance of the Pauli Exclusion Principle in electron configuration?

Back

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers, meaning that an orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins.

Front

What is Hund's Rule and how does it apply to electron configuration?

Back

Hund's Rule states that electrons will fill degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly before pairing up. This minimizes electron-electron repulsion and stabilizes the atom.

Front

What is the electron configuration for a neutral atom of Zinc (Zn)?

Back

The electron configuration for a neutral atom of Zinc (Zn) is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10.

Front

What is the electron configuration for a neutral atom of Magnesium (Mg)?

Back

The electron configuration for a neutral atom of Magnesium (Mg) is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2.

Front

What are the principal quantum numbers and what do they indicate?

Back

Principal quantum numbers (n) indicate the main energy level of an electron in an atom. They are positive integers (1, 2, 3, etc.) that correspond to the distance of the electron from the nucleus.

Front

What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a given energy level?

Back

The maximum number of electrons that can occupy a given energy level is given by the formula 2n^2, where n is the principal quantum number.