Electron Configuration

Question 1

What are orbitals (name then and give their shape )

Answer 1

Orbitals are clouds if negative charge and are where electrons are held

S orbital (spherical shape)
P-orbital ( dumbbell shape)
D-orbital(4 leaf clover shape)
F-orbital (tetrahedral structure)

Question 2

What are the three rules for filling atomic orbitals

Answer 2

Orbitals with lowest energy are filled first
Two electrons in the same orbital must have opposite spins
-electrons must be placed in individual orbitals before paired if orbitals have the same energy

Question 3

How many electrons can a orbital have

Answer 3

2 electrons with Opposite spins

Question 4

What is the order of filling and why and how does it differ when written in electron configuration

Answer 4

Order of filling is 4s 3d because 4s had less energy than the 3d subshell
Electron configuration should be written as 3d 4s

Question 5

What two elements don’t follow the rule of 4s filling before 3d and explain why

Answer 5

Chromium and copper as they only contain 1 electron in the 4s sub shell because the 3d subshell is more stable when half full or completely full

Question 6

How do you write the shorthand electron configuration

Answer 6

Write the noble gas in the previous period in brackets and continue the electron configuration

Question 7

What subshell loses electrons first from the d block elements

Answer 7

4s electrons are lost before the 3d subshell because after filled 4s subshell has a higher energy than the 3d subshell

Question 8

E