Orbitals & Electron Configuration

Front

What is an orbital?

Back

An orbital is a region in an atom where there is a high probability of finding electrons. Orbitals have different shapes and energy levels.

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 (e.g., 1s² 2s² 2p⁶).

Front

What does Hund's Rule state?

Back

Hund's Rule states that electrons will fill degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly before pairing up.

Front

What is the Pauli Exclusion Principle?

Back

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.

Front

What is the significance of noble gas configurations?

Back

Noble gas configurations represent a stable electron arrangement, often used to simplify the electron configuration of other elements.

Front

What does isoelectronic mean?

Back

Isoelectronic refers to atoms or ions that have the same number of electrons and thus the same electron configuration.

Front

How do you determine the electron configuration of an element?

Back

The electron configuration of an element can be determined by following the Aufbau principle, filling orbitals from lowest to highest energy.

Front

What is the electron configuration for oxygen?

Back

The electron configuration for oxygen is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴.

Front

What is the electron configuration for calcium?

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The electron configuration for calcium is [Ar] 4s².

Front

What is the shape of an s orbital?

Back

An s orbital has a spherical shape.