Orbitals and Quantum Numbers Flashcards
Erwin Schrödinger derived…
a complex mathematical formula to incorporate the wave and particle characteristics of electrons.
- Described with the wave function ψ
Electron density
The probability of finding an electron in a certain area of space is proportional to ψ2 and is called
The Schrödinger equation specifies
possible energy states an electron can occupy
The energy states are characterized by a set of
Quantum Numbers
Quantum numbers
describe the distribution of electron density in an atom
three quantum numbers describe
an atomic orbital
n
Principal quantum number - specifies size
l
Angular moment quantum number - specifies shape
ml
Magnetic quantum number - specifies orientation
Larger values of n correspond to…
larger orbitals
Shell
Orbitals with the same value of n
s orbitals
spherical in shape but differ in size
- 1s < 2s < 3s
p orbitals
hourglass shape
d orbitals
two hourglass shape or ring
f orbitals
christmas lights
ms
Electron spin quantum number - specifies an electron’s spin
- allowed values are +1/2 or -1/2
Pauli exclusion principle
no two electrons can have the same four quantum numbers
The energies of orbitals in the hydrogen atom depend only…
on the principal quantum number
Electron configuration
describes how the electrons are distributed in the atomic orbitals
Aufbau principle
electrons are added to the lowest energy orbitals first before moving to higher energy orbitals
Hund’s rule
the most stable arrangement of electrons is the one in which the number of electrons with the same spin is maximized
