Atomic Structure and Electron Configuration

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orbital

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a region in an atom where there is high probability of finding electrons

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quantum number

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a number that describes the properties of atomic orbitals and the properties of electrons in orbitals

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aufbau principle

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a rule that states electrons fill orbitals starting with the lowest energy level before filling higher levels

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Pauli exclusion principle

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a principle stating that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers

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Hund's rule

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a rule stating that electrons fill orbitals singly as far as possible before pairing up in any one orbital

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Electron configuration

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the arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals

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Subshell

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a subdivision of electron shells separated by electron orbitals (s,p,d,f)

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valence electrons

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electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding

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ground state

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the lowest energy state of an atom or other particle

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excited state

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a state in which an atom has more energy than its ground state, typically due to an electron moving to a higher energy orbital.