Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagrams

What is the term for the most stable, lowest-energy arrangement of electrons in an atom?

According to the Aufbau principle, electrons fill higher energy orbitals before lower energy orbitals.

What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a single orbital, according to the Pauli exclusion principle?

According to Hund's rule, single electrons with the same spin must occupy each equal energy orbital _______ additional electrons with opposite spins can occupy the same orbitals.

Match the principle with its description:

What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy an energy level denoted by 'n'?

The stability of d sublevel decreases if it's half-filled or fully filled with electrons

In orbital diagrams, how are electrons represented?

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals.
It follows specific rules:
- Aufbau Principle: Electrons fill orbitals with the lowest energy first.
- Pauli Exclusion Principle: Each orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons with opposite spins.
- Hund's Rule: Electrons fill degenerate orbitals individually before pairing up.
Electron configuration notation uses numbers and letters to represent energy levels and sublevels. (e.g., 1s², 2s², 2p⁶)
The most stable electron arrangement is the atom's ground state.
There are exceptions to the Aufbau principle, such as copper and chromium due to the stability of half or full 'd' sublevels.

Orbital Diagrams

Orbital diagrams illustrate electron distribution within orbitals visually using arrows (representing electrons) in boxes.
Each box corresponds to an atomic orbital and is labeled with the quantum numbers (e.g., 1s, 2p).

Noble Gas Notation

Noble gas notation is a shorthand method for representing electron configurations.
It uses the symbol of a noble gas (an element with a complete electron shell) to represent the inner core electrons.
The remaining electrons in the outer shells are explicitly written (e.g., [Ne]3s¹).

This quiz explores the concepts of electron configuration and orbital diagrams, crucial for understanding atomic structure. You will learn about the rules that govern the arrangement of electrons, including the Aufbau Principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle, and Hund's Rule. Visual representations through orbital diagrams enhance comprehension of electron distribution.