Electronic Structure

Question 1

Energy level

Answer 1

The fixed energy value that an electron in an atom may have

Question 2

Ground state

Answer 2

Lowest energy state

Question 3

Sublevel

Answer 3

Subdivision of a main energy level and consists of one or more orbitals of the same energy

Question 4

Orbital

Answer 4

A region in space within which there is a high probability of finding an electron

Question 5

Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

Answer 5

It is not possible to determine both the position and the momentum of an electron in an atom simultaneously

Question 6

Atomic radius

Answer 6

Half the distance between the nuclei of two atoms of the same element that are joined together by a single covalent bond

Question 7

First ionisation energy

Answer 7

The minimum energy required to completely remove the most loosely bound electron from one mole of neutral gaseous atom in the ground state

Question 8

Aufbau principle

Answer 8

When building up the electronic configuration of an atom in its ground state, the electrons occupy the lowest available energy level

Question 9

Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity

Answer 9

When two or more orbitals of equal energy are available, the electrons occupy them singly first before filling them in pairs