ATOMIC STRUCTURE:

ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

Atom , of all matter,

consists of 3
fundamental
particles:
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons Nucleus

Shell

How do electron organise themselves in an atom?

BOHR MODEL
In the Bohr model,
electrons are viewed
as particles traveling
along circular orbits
of xed radius

QUANTUM MECHANICAL MODEL

Electrons are viewed as waves rather than particles
These waves are considered to be spread out
through a region of space called an orbital.
An orbital: quantum
mechanical
equivalent of
electron location

Quantum
mechanic
model

Wave function: a mathematical description of

a wave
Schrdinger equation: describes the energy of
electrons

Schrdinger equation: Hn=Enn

H: complex mathematical operator
E: energy
: wave function of electron

Further reading can be found in Chemistry for Engineering Students

What can we see when we solve Schrdinger equation

for an atom?

: wave function of electron is very

complicated
From the wave function, we can get mathematical
equation for atomic orbital, to describe this:
Quantum
numbers:

Primary quantum number (n)

Secondary quantum number (l)
Magnetic quantum number (ml)

1. Primary quantum number (n) = shell

defines the shell in which a particular orbital is
found
must be a positive integer (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,)
When n=1: first shell
n=2: second shell
When number of electron >1 in a shell:
Repulsion between negative charges
Energy difference between orbital in a shell
2. Secondary quantum number (l) = subshell
provides a way to describe energy different
between the orbitals
l : 0, 1, 2, 3, ., n-1

Under normal conditions, atoms can be specified by n

and l. Under magnetic field:
3. Magnetic quantum number (ml):
Possible values: from l to +l

Quantum numbers: n and l

Have you ever seen these orbitals?

1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p 4d 4f etc.

How many electrons can occupy an orbital?

THE SPIN QUANTUM NUMBER (MS).

When placed in a strong magnetic eld, electrons

behave like tiny magnets.
Spin up
+1/2

Spin down
-1/2

The Pauli exclusion principle states that: no

two electrons in an atom may the same set of
four quantum numbers: n, l, ml and ms.

How many electron can occupy an orbital?

s
p
d
f

2 electrons

Maximum occupied
electrons

Electron configuration
Fill orbitals with lowest energy highest energy:
the aufbau principle

1s1

Li

lowest energy

1s2 2s1

Highest
energy

Hunds rule: within a subshell, electrons occupy

orbitals individually whenever possible.
6

1s

2s

2p
2p

Electron configuration

Some examples
8

15

P
Ba

56

79

Au

The Periodic Table and Electron Configuration

Electron of the highest energy orbital

comes from the same subshell

Periodic trends in Atomic properties

Atomic size: explore the trends in the periodic
table
within a group
within a period

Decrease

Atomic size:
within a group: numbers of shell increases
increase in atomic size and radii.
2

Atomic size:
within a period ????

Attraction

Repulsion

Attraction
Repulsion

+
+

Only attraction
Repulsion
force

+
Attraction

Hydrogen
Carbon

Shielding: the masking of the nuclear

charge by other electrons
Effective nuclear charge= Attraction - repulsion
Repulsion

Attraction

Carbon

Atomic size:
within a period:

Increase in atomic number (positively charge

nuclear)
increase in the attraction forces (effective
nuclear charge) between nucleus and electrons
decrease in atomic size

Attraction

Repulsion

Ionisation( or Ionization) energy

Ionisation energy: the energy required to remove an
electron from an atom, forming a cation
First Ionisation energy: the amount of energy needed
to induce the reaction
X(gas) X+(gas) + e-

Second Ionisation energy: the amount of energy

needed to induce the reaction
X+(gas) X2+(gas) + e-

Ionisation( or Ionization) energy

Electron affinity : the energy required to add

an electron to an atom, forming an anion
X(gas) + e- X-(gas)
Ionisation energy: always positive
Electron affinity : could be negative or positive

 If X- stable: X(gas) + e- X-(gas)

Release
energy
Negative amount
of energy

Negative
electron
affinity

If X- NOT stable: X(gas) + e- X-(gas)

Require
energy

Positive
electron
affinity

Most electron affinity values are negative