Electron Structure

Question 1

What is a shell?

Answer 1

A group of atomic orbitals all the with the same principle quantum number value

Question 2

What is the principle quantum number?

Answer 2

The shell number

Question 3

What is the maximum number of electrons you can fit in the first 4 shell?

Answer 3

1st = 2
2nd = 8
3rd = 18
4th = 32

Question 4

What increases as the shell number increases?

Answer 4

Energy

Question 5

What is an atomic orbital? (AKA electron cloud)

Answer 5

A region around the nucleus that can hold up to 2 electrons with opposite spins.

Question 6

What are the 4 kinds of orbital and what shell numbers are they found on?

Answer 6

1st = s
2nd = s and p
3rd = s, p and d
4th = s, p, d, and f

Question 7

What is the shape of an s-orbital?

Answer 7

Spherical

Question 8

What is the shape of a p-orbital?

Answer 8

A dumbbell

Question 9

What angle are the 3 p-orbitals on an axis to each other?

Answer 9

90*

Question 10

How many electrons can each sub shell hold?

Answer 10

s = 2
p = 6
d = 10
f = 14

Question 11

What block are the alkali and alkaline earth metals (and helium) in?

Answer 11

S-block (highest energy electron is in the s-sub shell)

Question 12

What block are the transition metals in?

Answer 12

D-block (highest energy electron occupies the d-sub shell)

Question 13

What block are the elements in the right side of the periodic table (group 13-18) in?

Answer 13

p-block (highest energy electron is in the p-subshell)

Question 14

Are orbitals filled in according to increasing energy?

Answer 14

Yes (s to p to d to f)

Question 15

Why do electrons pair up with the opposite spin within an orbital?

Answer 15

So that the atom is as stable as possible