Electrons in Atoms
October 27, 2014
October 29, 2014
ELECTRON CONFIGURATION
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Review of Atomic Theory
• Thomson discovered the electron
• Bohr determined that the electrons
travel around the nucleus according to
energy; electrons with lower energy are
closer to the nucleus
• Quantum Mechanical Model says
electrons orbit the nucleus in “clouds”;
there is a high probability of finding
them somewhere along these paths
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Electron Cloud
• Each energy level in the electron cloud model can hold a
limited number of electrons.
• The lowest energy level is the smallest and the closest to
the nucleus and is assigned a number of one.
– Up to seven energy levels have been detected.
• First energy level holds a maximum of two electrons.
• Second energy level is larger because it is farther away
from the nucleus. It holds a maximum of eight electrons.
• Third energy level is larger still and holds a maximum of
18 electrons
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Electron Orbitals
n=1
n=2
Conceptual Model of Energy Levels Bohr Model of Carbon
Where n = energy level
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Organization of Electrons
Energy Level
(Principal Quantum # = n)
Sublevel s Sublevel p Sublevel d Sublevel f
1 orbital 3 orbitals 5 orbitals 7 orbitals
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Energy Levels
• Electrons are restricted to energy levels based on
the amount of energy they have
• Lowest energy level is assigned #1
• On the periodic table, each period (horizontal
row) is an energy level
1
Energy Level (n) = 2
3
4
5
6
7
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Energy Sublevels
• Within each energy level, there are energy sublevels
• The 4 sublevels are identified by a letter and listed in
increasing complexity: s, p, d, f
• The letters stand for the way the emission lines look…
– s = sharp
– p = principal
– d = diffuse
– f = fundamental
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Energy Sublevels
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Orbitals
• Each sublevel contains a different # of orbitals, where the
electrons are found 90% of the time
– Orbitals are 3-D clouds that give volume to the atom
– Pauli Exclusion Principal: Each orbital can only
contain 2 electrons, which have opposing spins
Sublevel # orbitals Max # e-
s 1 2
p 3 6
d 5 10
f 7 14
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Orbitals
5.2 Quantum Theory & The Atom
Locating Electrons
• There are two ways to show where the electrons
are found in the atom
– Electron configurations
– Orbital filling diagrams
5.3 Electron Configuration
Electron Configuration
• Shorthand method for
describing the
arrangement of electrons
• Composed of the principal
energy level followed by
the energy sublevel and
includes a superscript with
the # of electrons in the
# electrons
sublevel
Helium: 1s2
Energy Level Sublevel
5.3 Electron Configuration
Electron Configuration
• Electron Configuration
is ordered the way you
read a book: from left to
right and top to bottom
• Note that d orbital is 1
energy level behind and
the f orbital is 2 energy
levels behind the s & p
orbitals"
5.3 Electron Configuration
Electron Configuration
• Determine how many
electrons in atom
• Fill lowest energy first
(using Arrow Diagram)
• Stop when sum of
subscripts is equal to
electrons
The order: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10
5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p6 etc.
5.3 Electron Configuration
Practice
• Hydrogen: 1s 1
• Oxygen: 1s1 2s2 2p4
• Argon: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
• Copper: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d9
