CHAPTER 5

Electrons in Atoms

5.1 REVISING THE

ATOMIC MODEL

N U C L E A R AT O M I C M O D E L
Rutherford
Explains simple
properties
Does not explain
chemical properties of
elements

BOHR MODEL
1913 Niels Bohr
Changed model to include how the energy of
an atom changes when the atom absorbs or
emits light
He made a model for Hydrogen.
Proposed that electrons are only found in
specific paths or orbits around the nucleus.

BOHR MODEL
Energy levels the fixed energies an electron
can have based on its orbit
Quantum the amount of energy needed to
change energy levels
(Quantum is related to quantity, how much)

The energy of an electron is quantized.

QUANTIZED ENERGY LEVELS

The energy required to

move from one energy level
to another is not always the
same.
Higher energy levels are
closer in energy than lower
energy levels.

Q UA N T U M M E C H A N I C A L
MODEL
Comes from mathematical solutions to the
Schrdinger equation
Electron energy is restricted to certain values (like
Bohr model)
No specified electron orbits (unlike Bohr model)
Determines the likelihood of finding an electron in
various locations around the nucleus
Electron cloud

ATOMIC ORBITALS
Atomic orbital describes the probability of
finding an electron of a certain energy level
in an area around the nucleus
Represented as a region of space where
the electron is most likely to be found.
Each energy sublevel has a different
probability and shape.

ATOMIC ORBITALS
Different atomic orbitals (energy sublevels) are

denoted by letters
s- lowest energy level; spherical
p- next to lowest energy level; dumbbell shaped
d- cloverleaf shaped or like a dumbbell with a ring
f- more complicated shapes

ATOMIC ORBITALS

5 .2 E L E C T R O N
ARRANGEMENT IN
AT O M S

E L E C T R O N C O N F I G U R AT I O N S

Electron configurations describe the

ways in which electrons are arranged
in various orbitals around the nucleus
of the atom

3 RULES FOR ELECTRON

C O N F I G U R AT I O N S *Some exceptions
exist

Aufbau principle: electrons occupy the lowest

energy levels first
Pauli exclusion principle: an atomic orbital may
describe no more than 2 electrons; to occupy the
same orbital electrons must have opposite spins
Hunds rule: electrons occupy orbitals (of one
energy level) in a way that makes the number of
electrons with the same spin direction as large as
possible

According to the aufbau

principle, in what order do
the energy levels fill?

E LE CT RON
CON FIG URATI ON S
Shorthand for writing electron
configurations: write the energy level and
symbol for every sublevel with a superscript
to indicate how many electrons occupy the
sublevel
EG: H is 1s1
Li: 1s22s1

He: 1s2
C: 1s22s22p2

PRACTICE ELECTRON
C O N F I G U R AT I O N S
Write the electron configuration for each
atom.
Carbon
Argon
Nickel
Boron
Silicon
Sulfur

5.3ATOMIC EMISSION
SPECTRA AND THE
QUANTUM MECHANICAL
MODEL

AT O M I C E M I S S I O N S P E C T R A

An electron with its lowest possible energy

(most stable) is in the ground state.
By absorbing energy the electron may be
excited to a higher state.
To return to the ground state the electron
must emit energy.
The energy may be UV, visible, or IR
radiation.

QUANTUM
MECHANICAL MODEL
Describes motions of subatomic
particles and atoms as waves
Planck Quantization of energy
Explains color change of heated metal
E=h
h=6.626x10^-34 Js

PH O T O E L E C T R IC E F F ECT
Einstein photoelectric effect
Electrons ejected when light
shines on metal
Only high enough energy of light
photons

QUANTUM CONCEPT OF
PHOTONS
Wave Characteristics
Particle Characteristics

WAV E PA RT IC L E D UA LIT Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKdoE1vX7k4

HEISENBERG
UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
(HUP)
It is impossible to know the velocity (speed)
and position (location) of a particle at the
same time.
Measuring one changes the other.