ATOMIC STRUCTURE:
ELECTRON CONFIGURATION
Atom , of all matter,
consists of 3
fundamental
particles:
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons Nucleus
Shell
How do electron organise themselves in an atom?
BOHR MODEL
In the Bohr model,
electrons are viewed
as particles traveling
along circular orbits
of xed radius
QUANTUM MECHANICAL MODEL
Electrons are viewed as waves rather than particles
These waves are considered to be spread out
through a region of space called an orbital.
An orbital: quantum
mechanical
equivalent of
electron location
Quantum
mechanic
model
Wave function: a mathematical description of
a wave
Schrdinger equation: describes the energy of
electrons
Schrdinger equation: Hn=Enn
H: complex mathematical operator
E: energy
: wave function of electron
Further reading can be found in Chemistry for Engineering Students
What can we see when we solve Schrdinger equation
for an atom?
: wave function of electron is very
complicated
From the wave function, we can get mathematical
equation for atomic orbital, to describe this:
Quantum
numbers:
Primary quantum number (n)
Secondary quantum number (l)
Magnetic quantum number (ml)
1. Primary quantum number (n) = shell
defines the shell in which a particular orbital is
found
must be a positive integer (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,)
When n=1: first shell
n=2: second shell
When number of electron >1 in a shell:
Repulsion between negative charges
Energy difference between orbital in a shell
2. Secondary quantum number (l) = subshell
provides a way to describe energy different
between the orbitals
l : 0, 1, 2, 3, ., n-1
Under normal conditions, atoms can be specified by n
and l. Under magnetic field:
3. Magnetic quantum number (ml):
Possible values: from l to +l
Quantum numbers: n and l
Have you ever seen these orbitals?
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p 4d 4f etc.
How many electrons can occupy an orbital?
THE SPIN QUANTUM NUMBER (MS).
When placed in a strong magnetic eld, electrons
behave like tiny magnets.
Spin up
+1/2
Spin down
-1/2
The Pauli exclusion principle states that: no
two electrons in an atom may the same set of
four quantum numbers: n, l, ml and ms.
How many electron can occupy an orbital?
s
p
d
f
2 electrons
Maximum occupied
electrons
Electron configuration
Fill orbitals with lowest energy highest energy:
the aufbau principle
1s1
Li
lowest energy
1s2 2s1
Highest
energy
Hunds rule: within a subshell, electrons occupy
orbitals individually whenever possible.
6
1s
2s
2p
2p
Electron configuration
Some examples
8
15
P
Ba
56
79
Au
The Periodic Table and Electron Configuration
Electron of the highest energy orbital
comes from the same subshell
Periodic trends in Atomic properties
Atomic size: explore the trends in the periodic
table
within a group
within a period
Decrease
Atomic size:
within a group: numbers of shell increases
increase in atomic size and radii.
2
Atomic size:
within a period ????
Attraction
Repulsion
Attraction
Repulsion
+
+
Only attraction
Repulsion
force
+
Attraction
Hydrogen
Carbon
Shielding: the masking of the nuclear
charge by other electrons
Effective nuclear charge= Attraction - repulsion
Repulsion
Attraction
Carbon
Atomic size:
within a period:
Increase in atomic number (positively charge
nuclear)
increase in the attraction forces (effective
nuclear charge) between nucleus and electrons
decrease in atomic size
Attraction
Repulsion
Ionisation( or Ionization) energy
Ionisation energy: the energy required to remove an
electron from an atom, forming a cation
First Ionisation energy: the amount of energy needed
to induce the reaction
X(gas) X+(gas) + e-
Second Ionisation energy: the amount of energy
needed to induce the reaction
X+(gas) X2+(gas) + e-
Ionisation( or Ionization) energy
Electron affinity : the energy required to add
an electron to an atom, forming an anion
X(gas) + e- X-(gas)
Ionisation energy: always positive
Electron affinity : could be negative or positive
If X- stable: X(gas) + e- X-(gas)
Release
energy
Negative amount
of energy
Negative
electron
affinity
If X- NOT stable: X(gas) + e- X-(gas)
Require
energy
Positive
electron
affinity
Most electron affinity values are negative