IB Chemistry
Structure 1.3 – Electron Configurations
(Solutions)
Name ……………………………………………………
Structure 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 – Emission spectra
1 C
The lines in the spectra are produced by the transition of electrons between atomic
energy levels.
2 a) Radio waves
b) Visible
c) Ultraviolet
d) Ultraviolet
e) Visible
3 A
• Visible transitions result in the Balmer series of transitions and are for
transitions that end at the n = 2 level.
• There are three possible transitions: 5 ® 2; 4 ® 2 and 3 ® 2.
• Any other transitions would fall outside of the visible region of the spectrum.
4 • When an electric current is passed through a glass tube that contains hydrogen gas, the
tube gives off a pink light.
• When this light is passed through a prism, four narrow bands of bright light (of different
colours) are observed and they have specific wavelengths, which seem to converge
towards smaller wavelength values. This means that they converge towards higher
frequency and energy levels.
• To understand the reason for this convergence at higher energy levels, we need to
consider that the energy levels are more distant than when the electrons are closer to the
nucleus. This means that their “jumps” will require (and will release) a bigger amount of
energy. As the electron gets further from the nucleus, it will occupy energy levels which
are closer to each other, and their “jump” will occur with a smaller amount of energy.
This is clearly represented in the diagram of Q5.
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6 The transition corresponds to a larger energy change in the atom.
The emitted photon has more energy and corresponds to a lower wavelength.
7 (a) UV radiation < yellow light < red light < IR radiation
(b) A continuous spectrum has all colors/wavelengths/frequencies whereas a
spectrum has only lines of sharp/discrete colors/wavelengths/frequencies.
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Structure 1.3.3, 1.3.4 and 1.3.5 – Electron configurations
1 B
2 C
3 A
The orbitals within the same level are filled according to the Aufbau principle.
The lowest energy levels are filled first.
4 C
Electronic configuration of Ni2+ is [Ar] 3d8. Three of the five 3d orbitals will be spin
paired with two electrons in each leaving one electron each in the remaining two
orbitals.
5 D
The e configuration of iodine (Z = 53) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d105s25p5
6 C
7 D
This is the ground state electronic configuration for Cr atom.
8 He 1s2
C 1s22s22p2
Mg 1s22s22p63s2
As 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p3
K 1s22s22p63s23p64s1
V 1s22s22p63s23p63d34s2
Cr 1s22s22p63s23p63d54s1
Cu 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s1
Co 1s22s22p63s23p63d74s2
9 O2− 1s22s22p6
Cl− 1s22s22p63s23p6
Ti3+ 1s22s22p63s23p63d1
Cu2+ 1s22s22p63s23p63d9
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10 Ne: 1s22s22p6
Negatively charged ions: O2−, F−, N3−
Positively charged ions: Na+, Mg2+, Al3+,
11 Ni2+ [Ar] 3d8
Pb2+ [Xe] 5d106s2
S2− [Ne] 3s23p6
Si4+ [Ne]
12 Mn atomic number: 25, configuration: [Ar]3d54s2
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Structure 1.3.6 and 1.3.7 – Ionization energies (HL only)
Calculate the value of the first IE from spectral data that gives the wavelength or frequency of the
convergence limit.
2 Li2+:
For one atom: E = hν = 6.63 × 10-34 × 2.97 ×1016 J
For one mole: E = 6.02 × 1023 × 6.63 × 10-34 × 2.97 ×1016 = 11 900 kJ mol−1
Be3+:
For one atom: E = hν = 6.63 × 10-34 × 5.27 ×1016 J
For one mole: E = 6.02 × 1023 × 6.63 × 10-34 × 5.27 ×1016 = 21 000 kJ mol−1
3 For one electron, E = hν = hc/λ = 6.63 × 10-34 × 3.00 ×108/9.12 ×10−8 = 2.18 × 10−18 J
1st Ionization energy = 2.18 × 10−18 × 6.02 × 1023 = 1.31 × 106 J mol−1 = 1310 kJ mol−1
The convergence line in the UV spectrum is due to the transition from n = ∞ to the
lowest level n = 1 which is the level occupied by one hydrogen electron in the ground
state.
The convergence line in the visible spectrum is due to the transition from n = ∞ to n =
2.
4 • The spectral lines in the emission spectrum converge at a certain wavelength, λ,
which represents the ionization of the atom.
• The wavelength can be used to calculate the first ionization energy, IE1, of the
atom using the formula E = hc/λ.
5 First ionization energy decreases down the group 1.
This is due to increasing atomic size and better shielding by electron shells.
As the outermost electron is progressively further away from the nucleus, it is less
strongly held by the nucleus and less energy is required to remove it.
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Across the period (Li to Ne), first IE increases due to increasing nuclear charge and
decreasing atomic radius. The outer electrons, therefore, become increasingly more
strongly attracted by the positive nucleus, thus, more energy is required to remove
the outermost electron.
However, the increase is not linear, but, in a 2-3-3 manner. This illustrates the
existence of different energy levels within the atom.
Be: 1s2 2s2
B: 1s2 2s2 2p1
The first IE of B is lower than that of Be because less energy is required to remove
the outer 2p electron of B since it is further away from the nucleus.
N: 1s2 2s2 2p3
O: 1s2 2s2 2p4
Inter-repulsion experienced by the paired 2p electrons in O , therefore, less energy is
required the outermost e in O.
Ne: 1s2 2s2 2p3
Na: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
First IE of Na is lower than Ne because the outer e of Na is in the third shell (3s) and
is further away from the nucleus and better shielded by the inner shells of electrons.
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7 Al: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
There is a jump from n = 1 to n =2 as the second outermost e is removed from the 3s
orbital which is nearer to the nucleus than the 3p orbital, hence more energy
required.
The second large jump in energy between n = 3 and n = 4 signifies the breaking the
stable inner core [Ne] configuration. Compare Al2+ : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 and Al3+ : 1s2 2s2
2p6
The third large jump in energy between n = 9 and n =10 signifies the breaking of the
[He] configuration. Compare Al8+ : 1s2 2s2 2p1 and Al9+ : 1s2 2s2
8 B
The large jump in energy occurs between 2nd and 3rd IE, so element is from Group 2.
9 B
The large jump in energy occurs between 2nd and 3rd IE, so element is from Group 2.
10 Carbon: 1s2 2s2 2p2.
The 4th electron is removed from the 2s orbital, the 5th electron is removed from the 1s
orbital. Electrons in 1s orbital are closer to the nucleus and experience stronger
electrostatic forces of attraction.
The 2nd electron is removed from the 2p orbital, the 3rd electron is removed from the
2s orbital. Electrons in the 2s orbitals are closer to the nucleus and so experience
stronger electrostatic forces of attraction.
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