Electronic Structure

of Atoms

Reynaldo M. Reyes Jr. General Chemistry 1

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Electro-magnetic radiation
(light)
The nature of light
light is a wave
The nature of waves
What is a wave?
What is waving?

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
The range of frequencies and wavelengths of
electromagnetic radiation is called the electromagnetic
spectrum.

Electronic
Structure
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A wave can be characterized by its wavelength and
frequency.

Wavelength, symbolized by the Greek letter

lambda, l, is the distance between any two identical
points on adjacent waves.

Electronic
Structure
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 Frequency, symbolized by the Greek
letter nu, n, is the number of
wavelengths that pass a fixed point in
one unit of time (usually a second).
The unit is 1/S or s-1, which is also
called the Hertz (Hz).

Electronic
Structure
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 Waves
The number of waves
Higher frequency passing a given point per
shorter wavelength unit of time is the
frequency (n).
For waves traveling at
the same velocity, the
longer the wavelength,
the smaller the
lower frequency frequency.
Electronic
longer wavelength Structure
of Atoms
Wavelength and frequency are related by
the wave speed. The speed of light, c, is
3.00 x 108 m/s.
c = nl

The relationship between wavelength and

frequency due to the constant velocity of
light is illustrated on the next slide.
Electronic
Structure
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 Energy as
(1) Waves

c = l c
c
l E hE h l

(2) Particle (Photon, Quanta)

E =h

(3) Matter
Electronic
Structure
E mc2 of Atoms
 Exercise:
1. What is the wavelength of blue
light with a frequency of 6.4
14
10 /s?

2. What is the frequency of light

having a wavelength of 681 nm?
Electronic
Structure
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 Waves
Major question:
What is waving?
water wave:
water height(pressure)
Sound wave:
air pressure
Light?

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Light waves.

What is waving? Electric field, and

perpendicular magnetic field. Electronic
Structure
Faraday thought this, Maxwell proved it. of Atoms
 Atoms and Electromagnetic Radiation
Atoms absorb and emit energy, often in the form of electromagnetic radiation
(visible light, microwaves, radio & TV waves, u.v., infrared,etc)

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
{Fireworks}
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 The Bohr model of the atom
In 1900, Max Planck (right)
developed his Quantum
theory, which states that
energy exists in fixed
amounts called quanta.
In 1913, Niels Bohr (left)
applied Planks theory to
electrons. He proposed that electrons could only exist in
fixed energy levels.
The main energy levels are called principal energy
levels and are given a number called the principal
Electronic
quantum number (n) with the lowest in energy being 1. Structure
of Atoms
 The Nature of Energy

Max Planck explained it by assuming that Electronic

energy comes in packets called quanta. Structure
2012 Pearson Education, of
Inc.Atoms
 The Nature of Energy
Einstein used this
assumption to explain
the photoelectric
effect.
He concluded that
energy is proportional
to frequency:
E = hn
where h is Plancks
constant, 6.626
1034 J-s.
Electronic
Structure
2012 Pearson Education, of
Inc.Atoms
 The Nature of Energy
Therefore, if one knows the
wavelength of light, one can
calculate the energy in one photon,
or packet, of that light:

c = ln
E = hn
Electronic
Structure
2012 Pearson Education, of
Inc.Atoms
Exercise Energy of a Photon

Calculate the energy of

one photon of yellow light
that has a wavelength of
589 nm.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 In the early 1900s, the atom was understood
to consist of a positive nucleus around which
electrons move (Rutherfords model).

This explanation left a theoretical dilemma:

According to the physics of the time, an
electrically charged particle circling a center
would continually lose energy as
electromagnetic radiation. But this is not the
caseatoms are stable.
Electronic
Structure
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In addition, this understanding could not explain
the observation of line spectra of atoms.

A continuous spectrum contains all wavelengths

of light.

A line spectrum shows only certain colors or

specific wavelengths of light. When atoms are
heated, they emit light. This process produces a
line spectrum that is specific to that atom. The
emission spectra of six elements are shown on theElectronic
next slide. 7 | 21
Structure
of Atoms
 Electronic
Structure
Copyright Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 7 | 22
of Atoms
 The Nature of Energy
Substances both absorb and emit only certain Discrete Spectra

{Flame Tests.Li,Na,K} {Na,B} {AtomicSpectra}

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 The Nature of Energy

Energy, l, n, related:

c = ln
E = hn

c= speed of light in vacuum,

constant
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Examples

1. Calculate the energy of a photon of light with a

frequency of 7.30 x 1015 Hz.
2. Calculate the energy of red light with a
wavelength of 720 nm.
3. Calculate the energy of a mole of photons of
that red light.
4. Calculate the wavelength of a photon with an Electronic
energy value of 4.93 x 10-19 J. Structure
of Atoms
Examples

1. Calculate the energy of a photon of light with a frequency of

7.30 x 1015 Hz.
4.84 x 10-18 J
2. Calculate the energy of red light with a wavelength of 720 nm.
2.76 x 10-19 J

3. Calculate the wavelength of a photon with an energy value of

4.93 x 10-19 J.
403 nm (4.03 x 10-7 m)
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Bohr.
Using a model that
had electrons
orbiting the nuceus
like planets, Bohr
could explain H, but
no other elements.
Too simple.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electron microscopy
Because electron
wavelengths are very
small, you can use
them to look at very
small things.

HIV virus
100 nm, (light
microscope limit 400
nm)

T-lymphocyte

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 The clues
1. Plank: E of light is quantized & depends on
frequency
2. Einstein/photo-electric effect: Light behaves like a
particle when it interacts with matter
3. Emission spectra/Bohr: Potential E. of electrons
are quantized in an atom
4. Debroglie: wave/particle duality of electrons
(matter).
5. Standing waves: are quantized inherently

Born/Schroedinger/Jordan: use standing wave

analogy to explain electron P.E. in atoms.
Quantum Mechanics Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Model of the Atom
Max Planck (energy quanta, Plancks constant)
Albert Einstein (energy and frequency)
Niels Bohr (electrons and Spectra)
Louis de Broglie (particle-wave duality of matter)
Werner Heisenberg (electron uncertainty)
Erwin Schrdinger (probability wave function, the four
quantum numbers) Prof. Alonso
Jrge L. Alns (diagrammatic quantum mechanical
atomic model)

Electronic
Solvay Conference in Structure
of Atoms
Brussels 1911
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electron Configuration, Orbital Notation
and Quantum Numbers
Principal (n)= energy level Azimuzal () = sublevel
orbital type

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p63d10 4s24p64d104f14

Spin (ms) =
electron + or -
Magnetic (ml) = orbital
cloud orientation (2e-
Electronic
per orbital) Structure
of Atoms
 Electron Configuration
Two issues:
(1)Arrangement of electrons within an atom
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p63d10 4s24p64d104f14
(2) Order in which electrons fill the orbitals
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f14
Aufbau Process: Using Periodic Table Sub-blocks:

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Electron Configurations Every
electron has a name
Name of each electron unique
Name consists of four numbers:
n,l,ml,ms
Example:
Mr. George Herbert Walker Bush
We must learn to name our
electrons
Unlike people, there is a lot in the
name of an electron.
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electron Configurations
Distribution of all
electrons in an atom
Consist of
Number denoting the
energy level

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electron Configurations
Distribution of all
electrons in an atom
Consist of
Number denoting the
energy level
Letter denoting the type
of orbital

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electron Configurations
Distribution of all
electrons in an atom.
Consist of
Number denoting the
energy level.
Letter denoting the type
of orbital.
Superscript denoting the
number of electrons in
those orbitals.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 The sub-levels
There are four sub- sub- max no.
level electrons
levels, labelled in s 2
order of increasing p 6
energy: s, p, d and f. d 10
Each holds a different f 14
number of electrons.
Each principal principal energy sub-levels max no.
energy level level, n electrons
1 1s 2
contains a
2 2s, 2p 8
different 3 3s, 3p, 3d 18
number of 4 4s, 4p, 4d, 32 Electronic
4f Structure
sub-levels. of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 1s
2s 2p
3s 3p 3d
4s 4p 4d 4f
5s 5p 5d 5f
6s 6p 6d
7s 7p

Electronic
Structure
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This results in the following order:
1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d,
5p,
6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p

Electronic
Structure
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Electron configuration of ions
When writing the electron
For negative
configuration of ions, it is
ions add
important to add or subtract the electrons.
appropriate number of electrons. For positive ions
remove
For non-transition metals, the sub- electrons.
levels are then filled as for atoms.

Example: what is the electron structure of O2-?

1. Count number of electrons in atom 8
2. Add or remove electrons due to charge 8 + 2 = 10
3. Fill sub-levels as for uncharged atom 1s22s22p6

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 p e e- configuration
Ions
Sr
Sr+
Sr 2+

Al2+

Al3+

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 p e e- configuration
S Ions
S1-
S 2-

Br1-
Ba
Ba2+
B 3+
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
There are several terms describing
electron configurations that are
important.

The complete electron configuration

shows every subshell explicitly.
Br:
1 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p
5
s2

Electronic
Structure
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The valence configuration consists
of the electrons outside the noble-gas
or pseudo-noble-gas core.
Br: 4s24p5

Electronic
Structure
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ORBITAL DIAGRAM

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Nitrogen
Electronic configuration : 1s22s22p3

4s 3d
3p
3s

2p Hunds Rule
2s
1 2 GROUP 3 4 5 6 7 0
1 H He

2 Li Be B C N O F Ne

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

1s 4 K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Neon
Electronic configuration: 1s22s22p6

4s 3d
3p
3s

2p Hunds Rule
2s
1 2 GROUP 3 4 5 6 7 0
1 H He

2 Li Be B C N O F Ne

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

1s 4 K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Vanadium
Electronic configuration: 1s22s22p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d3

4s 3d
3p [Ar]
3s

2p [Ne]
2s
1 2 GROUP 3 4 5 6 7 0
1 H He

2 Li Be B C N O F Ne

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

1s 4 K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Chromium
Electronic configuration: 1s22s22p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 3d5

4s 3d
3p [Ar] Notice that one of the 4s electrons
3s has been transferred to 3d so that 3d
is now a half filled shell with extra
stability. 4s and 3d contain only
2p [Ne] unpaired electrons.
2s
1 2 GROUP 3 4 5 6 7 0
1 H He

2 Li Be B C N O F Ne

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

1s 4 K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Nickel
Electronic configuration: 1s22s22p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d8

4s 3d
3p [Ar]
3s

2p [Ne]
2s
1 2 GROUP 3 4 5 6 7 0
1 H He

2 Li Be B C N O F Ne

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

1s 4 K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Copper
Electronic configuration: 1s22s22p6 3s2 3p6 4s13d10

4s 3d
3p Notice that again one of the 4s electrons
3s has been promoted to 3d so that 3d
is now a completely filled shell with extra
stability.
2p
2s
1 2 GROUP 3 4 5 6 7 0
1 H He

2 Li Be B C N O F Ne

3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

1s 4 K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Write the complete electron
configuration of the arsenic
atom, As, using the building-
up principle.
For arsenic, As, Z = 33.

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p3

Electronic
Structure
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QUANTUM NUMBERS

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum mechanics
Each electron can be explained
using a standing wave equation
(wavefunction)
Quantized frequency corresponds
to quantized Energy (Debroglie,
Plank, etc.)
Integer values are critical to this
description: quantum numbers. Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Mechanics
Plot of 2 for
hydrogen atom.

The closest thing we

now have to a physical
picture of an electron.

90% contour, will find

electron in blue stuff Electronic
Structure
90% of the time. of Atoms
 Quantum Mechanics
The wave equation is
designated with a lower
case Greek psi ().
The square of the wave
equation, 2, gives a
probability density map
of where an electron has
a certain statistical
likelihood of being at any
given instant in time. Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers
Solving the wave equation gives a set
of wave functions, or orbitals, and
their corresponding energies.
Each orbital describes a spatial
distribution of electron density.
An orbital is described by a set of
three quantum numbers (integers)
Why three?
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum numbers
3 dimensions.

Need three quantum numbers

to define a given wavefunction.
Another name for wavefunction:
Orbital (because of Bohr).
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers
Describe the location of electrons within atoms.

There are four quantum numbers:

Principal = describes the energy level (1,2,3,etc)
Azimuthal = energy sublevel, orbital type (s2, p6,
d10, f14)
Magnetic = orbital orientation or cloud (2
electrons on each cloud) Example: three p clouds:
px, py, pz
Electronic
Spin = which way the electron is spinning () Structure
of Atoms
 Principal Quantum Number, n
The principal quantum number, n,
describes the energy level on
which the orbital resides.
Largest E difference is between E
levels
The values of n are integers 1.
1, 2, 3,...n.
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Principal Quantum Number, n

1 2 3

The principal quantum number, n, describes the

energy level on which the orbital resides.
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Azimuthal Quantum Number, l
defines shape of the orbital.
Allowed values of l are integers
ranging from 0 to n 1.
We use letter designations to
communicate the different
values of l and, therefore, the
shapes and types of orbitals.
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Azimuthal Quantum Number,
This quantum number defines the shape of the orbital.
Allowed values of are integers ranging from 0 to n 1.
We also use letter designations:

Value of 0 1 2 3

Type of orbital s p d f

=0 =1 =2 =3

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Magnetic Quantum Number, ml
Describes the three-dimensional
orientation of the orbital.
Values are integers ranging from -l to l:
l ml l.
Therefore, on any given energy level, there
can be up to:
1 s (l=0) orbital (ml=0),
3 p (l=1) orbitals, (ml=-1,0,1)
5 d (l=2) orbitals, (ml=-2,-1,0,1,2)
7 f (l=3) orbitals, (ml=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3) Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Magnetic Quantum Number, ml
Describes the three-dimensional orientation of the
orbital.
Values are integers ranging from -l to l:
l ml l.
Therefore, on any given energy level, there can be up
to 1 s orbital, 3 p orbitals, 5 d orbitals, 7 f orbitals, etc.

Electronic
0 Structure
of Atoms
+1 0 -1
An s subshell, with one orbital,
can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.

A p subshell, with three orbitals,

can hold a maximum of 6 electrons.

A d subshell, with five orbitals,

can hold a maximum of 10 electrons.

An f subshell, with seven orbitals,

can hold a maximum of 14 electrons. Electronic
Structure
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Magnetic Quantum Number, ml
Orbitals with the same value of n form a shell.
Different orbital types within a shell are
subshells (s, p, d, f).

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
s Orbitals
Value of l = 0.
Spherical in shape.
Radius of sphere
increases with
increasing value of n.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
s Orbitals
s orbitals possess n1
nodes, or regions
where there is 0
probability of finding an
electron.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 p Orbitals
Value of l = 1.
Have two lobes with a nodal plane between
them.

Electronic
Note: always 3 p orbitals for a given n Structure
of Atoms
 d Orbitals
Value of l is 2.
2 nodal planes
Four of the five
orbitals have 4
lobes; the other
resembles a p
orbital with a
doughnut around
the center.

Note: always 5 d orbitals for a given n. Electronic

Structure
of Atoms
 f Orbitals ( = 3)
0

There are seven f

orbitals per n level.
The f orbitals have
1 -1 complicated names.
They have an = 3
m = -3,-2,-1,0,+1,+2,
+3 7 values of m
2 -2 The f orbitals have
important effects in the
lanthanide and actinide
elements.
Electronic
Structure
3 -3 of Atoms
{www.link.f}
 Energies of Orbitals
For a one-electron
hydrogen atom,
orbitals on the same
energy level have
the same energy.
That is, they are
degenerate.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Energies of Orbitals
As the number of
electrons increases,
though, so does the
repulsion between
them.
Therefore, in many-
electron atoms,
orbitals on the same
energy level are no
longer degenerate. Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Energies of Orbitals
For a given energy level
(n):
Energy:
s<p<d<f
s lowest energy, where
electrons go first
Next p
Then d

Why?
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Electronic
Structure
The closer to the nucleus, the lower the energy of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers: Ex 1
What is the designation for a subshell n=5
and l =1?

How many orbitals are in this subshell?

What are the values of ml for each of the

orbitals? Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers: Ex 1
What is the designation for a subshell n=5
and l =1?
5p

How many orbitals are in this subshell?

3

What are the values of ml for each of the

orbitals? Electronic
Structure
-1, 0, +1 of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers: Ex 2
Which of the following sets of quantum
numbers are not allowed in the
hydrogen atom?

A. n=2, l=0, ml =0, ms=1/2

B. n=1, l=0, ml=0, ms= -1/2
C. n=3, l=1, ml= 2, ms=1/2
D. n=4, l=2, ml= -2, ms=1/2 Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers: Ex 2
Which of the following sets of quantum
numbers are not allowed in the
hydrogen atom?

A. n=2, l=0, ml =0, ms=1/2

B. n=1, l=0, ml=0, ms= -1/2
C. n=3, l=1, ml= 2, ms=1/2
D. n=4, l=2, ml= -2, ms=1/2 Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers: Ex 3
Which of the following sets of quantum
numbers are not allowed in the carbon
atom?

A. n=2, l=0, ml =0, ms=1/2

B. n=1, l=1, ml=0, ms= -1/2
C. n=2, l=1, ml= -1, ms=1/2
Electronic
D. n=4, l=2, ml= -3, ms=1/2 Structure
of Atoms
 Quantum Numbers: Ex 3
Which of the following sets of quantum
numbers are not allowed in the carbon
atom?

A. n=2, l=0, ml =0, ms=1/2

B. n=1, l=1, ml=0, ms= -1/2
C. n=2, l=1, ml= -1, ms=1/2
Electronic
D. n=4, l=2, ml= -3, ms=1/2 Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electron Configuration

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Spin Quantum Number, ms
A fourth dimension
required. Why?

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Spin Quantum Number, ms
A fourth dimension
required. Why?
Time. Adding time
changes E
Another integer
(quantum number)
needed.
Time dependent
Schroedinger equation.
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Spin Quantum Number, ms

1920s: it was discovered that two electrons in the

same orbital do not have exactly the same energy.

The spin of
an electron
describes its
magnetic
field, which
affects its
Electronic
Structure
energy.
of Atoms
{e-spin}
 Spin Quantum Number, ms
This leads to a fourth
quantum number, the
spin quantum number
ms.
The spin quantum
number has only 2
values +1/2 and -1/2
Describes magnetic
field vector of electron Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
 Why do we call it spin

Because electrons
behave like little
magnets

Note: apparently
Electronic
only two values for Structure
the magnetic field of Atoms
 Why do we call it spin
charges that spin
produce magnetic
fields

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Write the quantum numbers for the
following.
S (1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p4)
Ne (1s2,2s2,2p6)
K (1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s1)

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Write the sets of quantum numbers
for the following.
Si (1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p2)
Cl (1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p5)
Mg (1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2)

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
PAULI EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
The Pauli exclusion principle summarizes
experimental observations that no two
electrons in one atom can have the same
four quantum numbers.

That means that within one orbital, electrons

must have opposite spin. It also means that
one orbital can hold a maximum of two
electrons (with opposite spin).
Electronic
Structure
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 Pauli Exclusion Principle
Only two electrons can occupy an orbital and
they must have opposite spins.

No two electrons in the same atom can have exactly the same
Electronic
Structure
energy (identical sets of quantum numbers) of Atoms
HUNDS RULE

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Hunds Rule of Maximum Multiplicity
One electron fills each orbital before a second of
opposite spin accompanies it.

For degenerate orbitals, the lowest energy is

attained when the number of electrons with the same
spin is maximized.
Electronic
Structure
{Electron Configuration} {Electron Configuration2} of Atoms
In 1927, Friedrich Hund discovered, by
experiment, a rule for determining the lowest-
energy configuration of electrons in orbitals
of a subshell.

Hunds rule states that the lowest-energy

arrangement of electrons in a subshell is
obtained by putting electrons into separate
orbitals of the subshell with the same spin
before pairing electrons. Electronic
Structure
Copyright Cengage Learning. All 8 | 108
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The lowest-energy configuration of
an atom is called its ground state.

Any other allowed configuration

represents an excited state.

Electronic
Structure
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 Hunds Rule
(of maximum multiplicity)

For degenerate orbitals,

the lowest energy is
attained when the
number of electrons with
the same spin is
NOT: maximized.

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
AUFBAU PRINCIPLE

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
The building-up principle (or aufbau
principle) is a scheme used to reproduce the
ground-state electron configurations by
successively filling subshells with electrons in
a specific order (the building-up order).

This order generally corresponds to filling the

orbitals from lowest to highest energy. Note
that these energies are the total energy of the
atom rather than the energy of the subshellsElectronic
alone.
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rights reserved.
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Structure
of Atoms
 The Aufbau principle
As part of his work on electron configuration,
Niels Bohr developed the Aufbau principle,
which states how electrons occupy sub-levels.
The Aufbau principle states that the
lowest energy sub-levels are occupied first.

This means the 1s sub-level

is filled first, followed by 2s,
2p, 3s and 3p.
However, the 4s sub-level is
lower in energy than the
3d, so this will fill first. Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
Electronic
Structure
of Atoms
For nitrogen, the orbital diagram would be

1s 2s 2p

Electronic
Structure
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Write an orbital diagram for the ground
state of the nickel atom.

For nickel, Z = 28.

1s 2s 2p

3s 3p

4s 3d
Electronic
Structure
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Magnetic Properties of Atoms
Although an electron behaves like a
tiny magnet, two electrons that are
opposite in spin cancel each other.
Only atoms with unpaired electrons
exhibit magnetic susceptibility.

This allows us to classify atoms based

on their behavior in a magnetic field.
Electronic
Structure
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A paramagnetic substance is
one that is weakly attracted by a
magnetic field, usually as the
result of unpaired electrons.

A diamagnetic substance is not

attracted by a magnetic field
generally because it has only
paired electrons. Electronic
Structure
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Electron configurations

Electronic
Structure
of Atoms