Physical - Atomic Structure Flashcards
What is relative atomic mass?
The average mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12th of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
What is relative isotopic mass?
The mass of a single isotope of an element relative to 1/12th of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
What is mass spectrometry?
An analytical technique that measures the mass to charge ratio of different ions.
What do electrons occupy?
energy levels
How are energy levels referred to?
Energy levels are referred to by their principal quantum number, n. The higher the principal quantum number/energy level, the more energy the electrons in it will have.
What are sub-levels?
Each energy level contains one or more sub-levels/sub-shells. These sub-levels have the names s, p, d and f.
How many electrons can the s sub-level hold?
2
How many electrons can the p sub-level hold?
6
How many electrons can the d sub-level hold?
10
How many electrons can the f sub-level hold?
14
What does isoelectronic mean?
When species (atoms/ions) have the same electron configuration.
What are orbitals?
An atomic orbital is a region around the nucleus that can hold up to 2 electrons with opposite spins. Each sub-shell is made up of orbitals.
Different atomic orbitals have different energies. Each orbital has a number that tells us the main energy level that it corresponds to. The atomic orbitals of each main level have different shapes, which in turn have slightly different energies. These are the sub-levels.
How many orbitals does the s sub-level have?
1 (2 electrons in total)
How many orbitals does the p sub-level have?
3 (6 electrons in total)
How many orbitals does the d sub-level have?
5 (10 electrons in total)
How many orbitals does the f sub-level have?
7 (14 electrons in total)
How are electrons shown in orbitals?
Electrons are shown in orbitals using arrows in box notation. Electrons in the same orbital have opposite spins.
What are the rules for determining electron configuration?
- Aufbau (construction) Principle
- Hund’s Rule
- Pauli Exclusion Principle
- Ion Formation
What is Aufbau’s (construction) Principle?
Electrons fill the lowest energy orbital available first.
What is Hund’s Rule?
If we have orbitals with the same energy, then we put electrons into individual orbitals before we pair them up. This is because electrons in the same orbital repel.
What is Pauli’s Exclusion Principle?
We can have up to 2 electrons in the same orbital but they must have opposite spins.
What is the Ion Formation rule?
Atoms lose electrons from the highest occupied orbital but transition metals lose 4s before 3d.
Which elements are the exception to the rules?
Chromium and Copper.
What is an electron?
A cloud of negative charge. The negative cloud charge has the shape of the orbital occupied by the electron.
What does the atomic orbital show us?
Scientists can never be certain of the exact location of an electron. The atomic orbital shows us a 95% probability of where an electron will exist.
What shape does an s orbital have?
spherical
What shape does a p orbital have?
dumb bell
How many electrons can the first main energy level have?
2
How many electrons can the second main energy level have?
8
How many electrons can the third main energy level have?
18
How many electrons can the fourth main energy level have?
32
What happens as we move away from the nucleus?
The energy of the sub-levels increases.
Why do we fill the 4s sub-level before the 3d sub-level?
The energy of the 4s sub-level is less than the energy of the 3d sub-level. When we have a positive ion, we take out the electrons in the 4s sub-level before the 3d sub-level.
How is the electron configuration always written?
In order of the electron shells, not the order of filling.
What is the expected and actual electron configuration of chromium?
Expected = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d4 4s2
Actual = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s1
What is the expected and actual electron configuration for copper?
Expected = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d9 4s2
Actual = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s1
Why do chromium and copper only have one electron in their 4s sub-level?
The 3d sub-level is more stable when it is either half full or completely full.
In the case of chromium, by having only one electron in the 4s sub-level, it can have a half full 3d sub-level.
In the case of copper, by only having one electron in the 4s sub-level, it can have a completely full 3d sub-level.
Why do period 5 elements have a maximum of 18 electrons in their fourth energy level?
Because elements are more stable when their sub-level is half full or completely full.