Electrons in Atoms and Ions

Question 1

What is an orbital?

Answer 1

a region of space that can hold up to 2 electrons with opposite spins. It has a specific energy level.

Question 2

How are the shapes of orbitals denoted?

Answer 2

s
p
d
f

Question 3

What is the shape of an s orbital?

Answer 3

circle
has a spherical boudary surface

Question 4

What is the shape of a p orbital?

Answer 4

“dumbbell” shaped
infinty shaped

Question 5

What is a shell?

Answer 5

a group of orbitals denoted by the same number (they are mathematically related)

Question 6

How are orbitals in the same shell similar?

Answer 6

they are generally similar in size so the average distance from the nucleus is similar

Question 7

How are the energy levels in orbitals related?

Answer 7

they are similar but not the same

Question 8

What happens when the number of shells increases?

Answer 8

the orbitals within the shell become larger = the average distance from the nucleus of the electrons within the orbitals increases = the energy of the electrons also increases

Question 9

How are the p orbitals in a shell arranged?

Answer 9

at right angles to each other

Question 10

How many s orbitals in a shell?

Answer 10

1

Question 11

How many p orbitals in a shell?

Answer 11

3

Question 12

How many d orbitals in a shell?

Answer 12

5

Question 13

How many f orbitals in a shell?

Answer 13

7

Question 14

How many electrons are in a s orbital?

Answer 14

2

Question 15

How many electrons are in a p subshell?

Answer 15

6

Question 16

How many electrons are in a d subshell?

Answer 16

10

Question 17

How many electrons are in a f subshell?

Answer 17

14

Question 18

How do electrons arrange themselves in an orbital?

Answer 18

occupy as many is neccessary, starting with those of the lowest energy
elecrtons will pair up in an orbital
electrons will go in different subshells to start - they do not pair up

Question 19

Why don’t electrons pair up in orbitals initially?

Answer 19

it gives a lower overall energy state which reduces the repulsion between electrons

Question 20

What is a sub-shell?

Answer 20

groups of orbitals of the same type, they are named according to the shell they are in and the orbital type
eg 2p

Question 21

What is reflected in the periodic table?

Answer 21

the relative energies

Question 22

Where are the s block elements?

Answer 22

group 1 and 2

Question 23

Where are the p block elements?

Answer 23

Group 3,4,5,6,7,0

Question 24

Where are the d block elements?

Answer 24

transition metals

Question 25

What happens when a +ion is formed in terms of electrons?

Answer 25

the highest energy electrons are lost first

Question 26

What happens when a -ion is formed in terms of electrons?

Answer 26

extra electrons are added to the highest energy subshell until it is full

Question 27

Why does the 3d subshell come after the 4s subshell when DRAWING the electron configuration?

Answer 27

it has a higher energy than 4s
but lower energy than 4p

Question 28

Why does the 3d subshell come before the 4s subshell when WRITING the electron configuration?

Answer 28

4s looses electrons first

Question 29

What classifies elements as p-block (any block) elements?

Answer 29

their electron configuration ends in P