General chemistryLesson 4 of 5 in the course Electronic Structure and Periodic Properties of Elements

Electron Configurations: Orbital Filling, Periodic Patterns, and Ions

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson explains how orbital energies are ordered and how electron configurations record the arrangement of an atom’s electrons. These ideas provide the foundation for predicting which orbitals electrons occupy.

The principal quantum number, nn, indicates the main shell and is related to orbital size and energy. In general, energy increases as nn increases: electrons in larger orbitals are farther from the nucleus on average and are less strongly attracted to it.

All flashcards

What is an electron configuration?
A notation that describes how an atom’s electrons are distributed among its shells and subshells.
What does 2p42p^4 tell you?
The shell number is 2, the subshell is pp, and the superscript indicates four electrons in that subshell.
What is shielding?
The reduction in the nuclear attraction experienced by an electron because other electrons, especially inner electrons, repel it and partially screen the nucleus.
What is orbital penetration?
The extent to which an orbital’s electron density reaches close to the nucleus. Greater penetration generally means stronger nuclear attraction and greater stabilization.
What are the maximum electron capacities of ss, pp, dd, and ff subshells?
They hold 2, 6, 10, and 14 electrons, respectively.

Quiz questions

  1. What does the superscript in a subshell notation such as 2p42p^4 represent?Answer: The number of electrons in that subshell.
  2. What is the usual energy order of subshells within the same shell?Answer: s<p<d<fs < p < d < f.
  3. Which subshell is represented by 3d83d^8?Answer: Eight electrons in the dd subshell of the shell with n=3n=3.
  4. Why are electrons in more penetrating orbitals generally more stabilized?Answer: They spend more time close to the nucleus and experience a stronger attraction to it.
  5. How does shielding affect an outer electron?Answer: Inner electrons partly reduce the nuclear attraction experienced by the outer electron.

Based on Chemistry 2e by Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, William R. Robinson, PhD (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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