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Atomic Orbitals and Electron Configurations: The Electron Dart Lab

The document discusses atomic orbitals and electron configurations. It explains that quantum calculations show electrons exist as probability clouds around the nucleus, known as orbitals. These orbitals are described by four quantum numbers - principal energy level (n), sublevel (l), orbital (ml), and electron spin (ms). Electron configurations follow the Aufbau principle of occupying the lowest energy levels first, are governed by the Pauli exclusion principle of two electrons per orbital of opposite spin, and use Hund's rule to place electrons singly in orbitals of the same energy before pairing.

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182 views

Atomic Orbitals and Electron Configurations: The Electron Dart Lab

The document discusses atomic orbitals and electron configurations. It explains that quantum calculations show electrons exist as probability clouds around the nucleus, known as orbitals. These orbitals are described by four quantum numbers - principal energy level (n), sublevel (l), orbital (ml), and electron spin (ms). Electron configurations follow the Aufbau principle of occupying the lowest energy levels first, are governed by the Pauli exclusion principle of two electrons per orbital of opposite spin, and use Hund's rule to place electrons singly in orbitals of the same energy before pairing.

Uploaded by

Peter
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Atomic Orbitals and The Electron Dart Lab

Electron Configurations
Aka, where the electrons hang out in atoms
• What did we learn
from dropping the
darts on to the
target?

• Quantum
calculations show
the same thing for
actual atoms

The Quantum Mechanical Atom Atomic Orbitals


• Best thought of as a region of
space in which there is a high
• SchrÖdinger’s Equation probability of finding an
• assumed the electron was electron
a standing wave • Remember, we can’t know
for sure unless we
• By solving the equation, measure
determined the probability of
finding an electron in a given • Solving the SchrÖdinger
region around the nucleus. equation leads to the four
quantum numbers that
• These regions are called describe these clouds of
probability
orbitals
First quantum number (n) Second quantum number (l)
• Sublevels

• Principal energy level • Called s, p, d, f (sharp, principal,


diffuse, fundamental)
• n can have integral values of 1, 2, 3, …etc. • Can take on any integral value

• Determines distance from the nucleus starting with 0 up to a maximum


of n-1.
• When n = 1, lowest energy level • When l = 0, refers to s
• Maximum capacity of principal level = 2n 2
• when l = 1, refers to p

• when l = 2, refers to d

• when l = 3, refers to f

Third quantum number (ml) Fourth quantum number (ms)


• Orbitals

• Has values from -l to + l, including 0

• This number determines the orientation of the electron cloud


• Electron “spin”
surrounding the nucleus.
• Electron in an orbital can have either of two
• Capacity of each orbital is 2 electrons. spins
• Total number of orbitals in a shell is 2n

• When l =0, ml = 0 (only 1 orbital)


• ms = +1/2 or -1/2
• Paramagnetism and diamagnetism are
• When l =1, ml = -1, 0, 1 (3 orbitals) explained using spin number.

• When l =2, ml = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 (5 orbitals)


Electron Configurations Aufbau Diagram
• The way that electrons are arranged around the nucleus.

• Follow three rules:


1. Aufbau Principle-

• Electrons occupy the lowest possible energy level first


2. Pauli Exclusion Principle-

• Each orbital can only hold 2 electrons with opposite spin


3. Hund’s Rule-

• when filling orbitals of equal energy, each electron goes in


its own orbital before doubling up

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