Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
Electron Configuration
Electrons exist in different energy levels or shells
Every electron in the same shell has the same amount of energy
The electron shell with the lowest energy level is closest to the nucleus. The further away
from the nucleus, the greater the energy level it has
The DIFFERENCE in energy levels of the shells decreases the further away the get from the
nucleus
The arrangement of electrons can be shown using the electron configuration e.g. 2, 8, 5
Electron subshells s, p, d, f (smart professors do fine)
Aufbau Principle: electrons fill the lowest available energy level first, before filling higher
energy levels
Isotopes & Relative Atomic Mass
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons (same atomic number) but
different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei (different mass numbers)
Same electron configuration
Similar chemical properties
o How an element participates in chemical reactions
o When an atom reacts in a chemical reaction its behaviour is caused by the
arrangement and number of electrons
Different physical properties
o Characteristics that can be observed or measured
Different relative abundance on Earth