Periodic Trends & Electron Configuration

Front

What are periodic trends in the context of the periodic table?

Back

Periodic trends refer to the predictable patterns in the properties of elements, such as atomic radius, electronegativity, and ionization energy, that occur as you move across a period or down a group in the periodic table.

Front

What is atomic radius?

Back

Atomic radius is the distance from the nucleus of an atom to the outermost shell of electrons. It generally decreases across a period and increases down a group.

Front

What is electronegativity?

Back

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. It increases across a period and decreases down a group.

Front

What is ionization energy?

Back

Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom in its gaseous state. It generally increases across a period and decreases down a group.

Front

What is the shielding effect?

Back

The shielding effect is the phenomenon where inner-shell electrons reduce the effective nuclear charge felt by outer-shell electrons, affecting atomic size and ionization energy.

Front

What is the Aufbau Principle?

Back

The Aufbau Principle states that electrons occupy orbitals of lowest energy first before filling higher energy orbitals.

Front

What is Hund's Rule?

Back

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

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, meaning an orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins.

Front

What is the electron configuration of nitrogen?

Back

The electron configuration of nitrogen is 1s² 2s² 2p³.

Front

Which element has the highest electronegativity?

Back

Fluorine has the highest electronegativity of all elements.