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GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1
Quarter 4, Module 1-2

THE QUANTUM MECHANICAL

DESCRIPTION OF THE ATOM AND
ITS ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) covered by the module:

Use quantum numbers to describe an electron in an atom. (STEM_GC11ESIIa-

b-54)
Determine the magnetic property of the atom based on its electronic
configuration. (STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-57)
Draw an orbital diagram to represent the electronic configuration of atoms.
(STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-58)

Module 1 Quantum Numbers

I. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION:

Quantum Numbers
Each electron in an atom is unique. This was described by Pauli’s
exclusion principle that no two electrons can have the same sets of quantum
numbers. The quantum numbers describe the electron in an atom. An
analogy to this is similar when you watch a movie in a movie house. You buy
a ticket, in the ticket it indicates the row and the seat. This is similar to the
electron in an atom. The electron has its unique location and the quantum
number describe were the electron is.
Principal Quantum Numbers
The principal quantum number (n) indicates the size of the orbital (see
Figure 1). The bigger the n is, the greater is the average distance of an
electron in the orbital from the nucleus and thus, the larger the orbital and
the atom. The principal quantum number also indicates the main energy
level occupied by an electron, and takes on positive integers (1, 2, 3 and so
on) as values. For example, an electron with n = 1 occupies the first level
closest to the nucleus. More than one electron can occupy the same energy
level in the same shell. A shell is composed of a set of orbitals that have the
same principal quantum numbers.
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Figure 1. The energy level (n) is the energy of the electron to sustain its path. Note, the lowest energy
level is 1. As n increases, the distance from the nucleus increases.

Source: https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Oregon_Institute_of_Technology/OIT%3A_CHE_202_-
_General_Chemistry_II/Unit_2%3A_Electrons_in_Atoms/2.2%3A_Atomic_Orbitals_and_Quantum
_Numbers

Azimuthal Quantum Numbers

The azimuthal or orbital or angular quantum number (l), also known as
angular momentum quantum number, corresponds to the shape of the
orbital. Allowed values for l include 0 and all positive integers less than or
equal n-1. For example, an n =1 denotes a specific orbital shape
corresponding to l = 0. An n = 2 may have one of two orbital shapes
corresponding to l = 0 and l = 1. Letters are assigned to the orbitals
depending on the l values. Therefore, an l = 0 corresponds to an s orbital; l =
1 means a p orbital; and so on. One or more orbitals with the same values of
n and l are known as subshells. For example, the shell with n = 2 has two
subshells (l = 0 and l = 1). These subshells are referred to as the 2s and 2p
subshells. The number “2” refers to n, while s and p refer to the two values of l.
Each subshell can accommodate only a certain number of electrons as
indicated in Table 1.

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Table 1. Azimuthal or orbital or angular quantum numbers describes the shape of the electron probability
in an atom. The different shapes are also known as subshells and each have its own shape.

Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/angular-momentum-quantum-number-definition- example-

quiz.html

Magnetic Quantum Number

The magnetic quantum number (ml) indicates the orientation of an
orbital around the nucleus (see Figure 2). For a particular value of l, there will
be (2l + 1) possible values of ml. Hence the values of ml are integers from –l to
+l, including 0. For example, if l = 0, only one value for ml is possible; that is ml
= 0. If l = 1, there are (2l + 1 = 3) possible values of ml which are -1, 0, and +1.
The number of ml values also gives an idea about the number of orientations
of orbitals belonging to a particular subshell. For instance, for a p orbital with
l = 1, three possible ml values (-1, 0, +1) imply that there are three possible
orientations of the p orbital around the nucleus.

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 Figure 2. Magnetic quantum number describes the orientation in space of the electrons. Notice that, s has
only 1 orientation since its spherical. For p, have 3 orientations, d have 5 orientations, and f have 7
orientations. Each orientation can accommodate a maximum of 2 electrons. So, s can have a maximum of
2 electrons, p can have a maximum of 6 electrons, d can have a maximum of 10 electrons, and f can have
a maximum of 10 electrons.

Source: https://byjus.com/chemistry/quantum-numbers/

Spin Quantum Numbers

The spin quantum number (ms) indicates the spins of the electrons and
may have only two possible values, +1/2 and -1/2. The (+) and (-) signs only
refer to the orientation of the spin, and not on the electric charge (see Figure
3).

Figure 3. Spin quantum number describe the spin of the electrons. This spin creates a partial charge of ±
½. This explain why if there are 2 electrons occupying an orbital excise even though both electrons are
negatively charge.

Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/spin-quantum-number-definition-example-
quiz.html

Rules Governing the Combination of Quantum Numbers

1. The quantum numbers n, l, ml, are integers.
2. The principal quantum numbers, n, cannot be zero (0). Its lowest value
is 1.
e.g., n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on
3. The azimuthal quantum number, l, can have a value from 0 to n-
1. The highest the value it can have depends on n. e.g.,
If n = 6, l can be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
4. The magnetic quantum number, ml, can be any integer from –l to +l.
e.g., If l = 1, ml can be -1, 0 or +1.
If l = 2, ml can be -2, -1, 0, +1 or +2.
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5. The spin quantum number, ms, can only be +1/2 or -1/2. No other
values are allowed.
 Module 2 Electronic Configuration

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION:

Electronic configuration

Electron distribution is important in understanding chemical bonding and

chemical reactions. The step-by-step process of arranging electrons in atom,
is called electronic configuration. Based on quantum number, each electron
is unique, and has its own quantum number. This is stated by Pauli’s exclusion
principle which states that no two electrons can have the same sets of
quantum numbers. In building an atom by adding electrons, it should start
from the lowest possible energy level which is n = 1. An analogy to this is when
building a house, it should start from the foundation and up, it should not be
possible to start the house with a roof. As seen in the diagram, as energy level
(n) increases, the number sub-shells that needs to be filled up also increases
as well as the number of electrons. In addition, the distance from the nucleus
also increases as energy level increases (see Figure 1).

- In filling electron, the green line should be

followed starting from 1s.
- Notice, that when 3p is reach, the next to
be filled up is not 3d but 4s. This is also be
seen on a higher energy level of different
orbital. This is due to the overlapping of
orbitals. And this is experimentally been
proven. Note, that s can occupy a
maximum of 2 electrons, p can occupy a
maximum of 6 electrons, d can occupy a
maximum of 10 electrons, and f can
occupy a maximum of 14 electrons.

Figure 1. Aufbau Diagram – a mnemonic used in electronic configuration

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There are two notations used in writing the electronic configuration, the
first is spdf notation, and orbital notation. Spdf notation highlighted on
the number of electrons occupying a certain energy level. On the other
hand, orbital notation highlighted on the number of electrons
occupying on a certain subshell or orbital. Below are same examples of
the notations used for writing the electronic configuration.

A. Spdf notation of Helium, He (2 electrons);

Principal quantum number 1s2 Number of electrons in an

orbital

Subshell

B. Orbital notation of Neon, Ne (10 electrons);

or

Note that in some sources, instead of using a box they are using a line;
1 line for s subshell, 3 lines for p subshell, 5 lines for d subshells and 7 lines
for f subshells. The boxes and lines in orbital notation represent
degeneracy. Degeneracy means the have the same energy but
differs in spatial orientation. For example, p subshell contains 3 possible
spatial orientation px, py, and pz. t the 3 p’s.
The basic electron distribution is made when an atom is in its
ground state. Ground state means that atom’s electrons occupy the
lowest possible energy levels. Representing electron distribution
follows three general rules - Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle,
and Hund’s rule.
The Aufbau principle states that electrons should occupy first the
orbitals with lower energy before those with higher energy. From figure
1, 1s orbital should be filled first before the 2s orbital. Take note also
that the 4s orbitals has lower energy than 3d orbital.

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 The Pauli exclusion principle states
that no two electrons in an atom can n=1 n=1
l=0 l=0
possess the same set of quantum ml = 0 ml = 0
numbers. This principle emphasizes the m = +1/2 ms = -1/2
significance of the spin quantum

numbers. If two electrons in an atom have the same n, l, ml they should

still have different ms values; meaning, one electron must have ms =
+1/2 and the other must have ms = -1/2. This principle is best explained
using orbital diagrams. Consider the two electrons in the 1s orbital.
Recall that the s orbital can accommodate up to two electrons only.
Take note of the set of quantum numbers of each electron.
Lastly the Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity or simply Hund’s
rule suggests that the most stable arrangement of electrons in
subshells is the one with the greatest number of parallel spins. This
means that each orbital in a subshell is singly occupied before pairing
of electrons occurs. Below is an example on applying Hund’s rule

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 CORRECT:

INCORRECT:

(a) (b) (c)

Magnetic property based on electronic configuration

Magnetism is a property of materials that respond to an applied

magnetic field. Permanent magnets have persistent magnetic fields caused
by ferromagnetism, the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism.
However, all materials are influenced differently by the presence of a
magnetic field. Some are attracted to a magnetic field (paramagnetic);
others are repulsed by it (diamagnetic); still others have a much more
complex relationship with an applied magnetic field (e.g., spin-glass
behavior and antiferromagnetism). Substances that are negligibly affected
by magnetic fields are considered non- magnetic, these are: copper,
aluminum, gases, and plastic. Pure oxygen exhibits magnetic properties
when cooled to a liquid state.

The magnetic properties of a given element depend on the electron

configuration of that element, which will change when the element loses or
gains an electron to form an ion. If the ionization of an element yields an ion
with unpaired electrons, these electrons may align the sign of their spins in the
presence of a magnetic field, making the material paramagnetic. If the spins
tend to align spontaneously in the absence of a magnetic field, the resulting
species is termed ferromagnetic.

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Determination if paramagnetic or diamagnetic

The magnetic properties of a substance can be determined by examining

its electron configuration: If it has unpaired electrons, then the substance is
paramagnetic and if all electrons are paired, the substance is then
diamagnetic. This process can be broken into three steps:

1. Write down the electron configuration

2. Draw the orbital notation
3. Identify if unpaired electrons exist at the outermost energy level.
4. Determine whether the substance is paramagnetic or
diamagnetic. Paramagnetic if it contains at least 1 unpaired
electron and diamagnetic if it has paired electrons.

Example 1: Determine the electronic configuration of Cl using a.) spdf

notation, and b.) orbital notation.

Solution.

- Find the electron number of electrons of Cl For Cl

atoms, 17 electrons

- Writing the spdf notation (Note, use Aufbau diagram):

1s22s22p63s23p5

- Writing the orbital notation:

1S 2S 2p 2s 3p

Based on the orbital notation, the Cl contains an unpaired electron in the 3p

orbital, thus it is expected to be paramagnetic, albeit weak

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