4.3 Electron Configuration

Electrons are arranged in atoms in specific ways. Which of the following best describes this arrangement?

• Randomly scattered throughout the atom

• In fixed orbits around the nucleus

• In a cloud around the nucleus

• In a single layer around the nucleus

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What principle helps determine electron configurations for atoms in the ground state?

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The Pauli exclusion principle is used in modeling electron arrangements in atoms by:

• allowing electrons to occupy the same quantum state within an atom.

• preventing electrons from occupying the same quantum state within an atom.

• allowing electrons to have the same set of quantum numbers.

• preventing electrons from having different sets of quantum numbers.

The role of Hund's rule in electron configuration is to:

• maximize the total spin of electrons in degenerate orbitals

• minimize the total energy of the atom

• ensure electrons fill the lowest energy orbitals first

• pair electrons in orbitals before moving to the next

Electron configurations are represented using orbital diagrams by:

• using arrows to indicate electron spins in orbitals

• writing the electron configuration in a linear format

• using numbers to represent electron energy levels

• drawing circles to represent electron shells

The importance of valence electrons in electron-dot structures is:

• They determine the chemical reactivity of an element.

• They are not involved in bonding.

• They are located in the nucleus.

• They have no effect on the structure.

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What is electron configuration?

• A description of the arrangement of electrons in an atom

• A type of chemical bond

• A method for measuring atomic mass

• A process of nuclear fusion

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The aufbau principle is:

• a rule that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals first

• a principle stating that no two electrons can have the same set of quantum numbers

• a theory that describes the wave properties of electrons

• a concept that explains the dual nature of light

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The Pauli exclusion principle states that:

• two electrons in an atom can have the same set of quantum numbers

• two electrons in an atom cannot have the same set of quantum numbers

• electrons in an atom can exist in any energy level

• electrons in an atom are always paired

Hund’s rule states that:

• Electrons fill orbitals starting with the lowest energy level first.

• Electrons will fill an unoccupied orbital before they pair up.

• No two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers.

• The position and momentum of an electron cannot both be precisely determined at the same time.