ATOMIC STRUCTURE

The nuclear atom

Atoms consist of protons (p) and neutrons (n) in the nucleus, surrounded by
electrons (e). Note:
 all atoms of an element have the same number of protons in the nucleus
 isotopes - atoms of the same element that have a different number of
neutrons
 atomic number = the number of protons in an atom (p) = the number of
electrons in an atom (e)
 mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons
𝑁
 1≤ ≤ 1.5 ( except H)
𝑃
Electron configuration
The electron configuration is the distribution of electrons of an atom or molecule
in molecular orbitals.
→ So we need 2 electrons to fill an s orbital, 6 electrons to fill a p orbital, 10
electrons to fill a d orbital and 14 electrons to fill the f orbital.
The Aufbau principle: a maximum of two electrons are put into orbitals in the
order of increasing orbital energy: the lowest-energy orbitals are filled before
electrons are placed in higher-energy orbitals.

There are four quantum numbers:

n - principal quantum number - describes the energy level

ℓ - angular momentum quantum number - describes the subshell
ml or m - magnetic quantum number - describes the orbital of the subshell
ms or s - spin quantum number - describes the spin
The Pauli exclusion principle: it is impossible for two electrons can have the same
values for n, l, ml, and ms.
Hund’s rules:
 The charge of an electron is negative and electrons repel each other → To pair
electrons, the spins of electrons in an orbital are opposite (i.e. +1/2 and -1/2).
 Fill each shell with one electron each before starting to pair them up.

Special Cases

When we make a 3+ ion for Iron, we need to take the electrons from the
outermost shell first so that would be the 4s shell NOT the 3d shell.
Deduce the electron configuration = [Noble gas in previous period] + the electron
configuration of outermost shell.
Exceptions
Chromium and Copper

Problems
1. Suppose that all you know about a certain electron is that its principal
quantum number is 3. What are the possible values for the other four
quantum numbers?
2. Is it possible to have an electron with these quantum
numbers: n=2, l=1, ml=3, ms=1/2? Why or why not?
3. Is it possible to have two electrons with the same n, l, and ml?
4. How many subshells are in principal quantum level n=3?
5. What type of orbital is designated by quantum numbers n=4, l=3, and ml=0?

Solutions
1.
o When n= 3, l= 0, ml= 0, and ms= +1/2 or −1/2
o l= 1, ml= −1, 0,or +1, and ms=+1/2 or −1/2
o l= 2, ml= −2, −1, 0, 1, or +2 and ms= +1/2 or −1/2
2. No, it is not possible. ml=3 is not in the range of −l to +l. The value should be be
either -1, 0, or +1.
3. Yes, it is possible to have two electrons with the same n, l, and ml. The spin of
one electron must be +1/2 while the spin of the other electron must be -1/2.
4. There are three subshells in principal quantum level n=3.
5. Since l=3 refers to the f subshell, the type of orbital represented is 4f
(combination of the principal quantum number n and the name of the
subshell).