Exam: Electron Configuration

Question 1

What is the Pauli Exclusion Principle?

Answer 1

Every electron has an associated spin;
Electrons are able to spin two directions;
Maximum of two electrons can occupy a single atomic orbital, but only if the electrons have opposite spins

Question 2

What is Hund’s Rule?

Answer 2

States that single electrons with the same spin must occupy each equal energy orbitals;
In the orbitals of the same subshell, electrons are filled singly first before pairing starts

Question 3

What is the Aufbau Principle?

Answer 3

States that each electron occupies the lowest energy orbital available;
Electrons occupy orbitals in accordance to the Aufbau Diagram

Question 4

What are electron dot structures?

Answer 4

Consists of the element’s symbol, which represents the atomic nucleus and inner-level electrons, surrounded by dots representing all of the atom’s valence electrons

Question 5

What are valence electrons?

Answer 5

Electrons in the atom’s outermost orbitals;
Generalls, those orbitals are associated with the atom’s highest principle energy level

Question 6

Why are valence electrons important?

Answer 6

Because they determine the chemical properties of an element;
They are also the first ones to come into contact with each other when two atoms interact, so they determine how an atom will react to a chemical reaction