Orbital diagrams

Definition

Orbital diagrams are graphical representations of the electron configurations in atoms. They use boxes or lines to represent orbitals and arrows to represent electrons with their spins.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins.
2. Orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle, starting from the lowest energy level up.
3. The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons can have the same set of quantum numbers within an atom.
4. Hund's Rule indicates that electrons will fill degenerate orbitals singly before pairing up.
5. Orbital diagrams help visualize the distribution of electrons among different atomic orbitals.

Review Questions

• What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a single orbital?
• Which principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have identical quantum numbers?
• In an orbital diagram, how do you represent an electron with its spin?

Related terms

Electron Configuration:

The arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals, typically written using notation that includes energy levels and sublevels.

Aufbau Principle:

A rule stating that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbital available.

Hund's Rule:

A rule stating that every orbital in a subshell is singly occupied before any orbital is doubly occupied.