Electron Configuration Rules to Know for Intro to Chemistry

Understanding electron configuration rules is key in atomic physics and chemistry. These rules, like the Aufbau Principle and Pauli Exclusion Principle, explain how electrons are arranged in atoms, influencing their chemical properties and behavior in reactions.

1. Aufbau Principle

   • Electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to the highest.
   • The order of filling is determined by the energy of the orbitals, not by their distance from the nucleus.
   • This principle helps predict the electron configuration of an atom in its ground state.

2. Pauli Exclusion Principle

   • No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.
   • This means that an orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons, which must have opposite spins.
   • It ensures that electrons are distributed in a way that minimizes repulsion.

3. Hund's Rule

   • Electrons will occupy degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly before pairing up.
   • This minimizes electron-electron repulsion and stabilizes the atom.
   • Each singly occupied orbital will have electrons with the same spin direction.

4. Orbital filling order (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, etc.)

   • The order of filling is based on increasing energy levels, following the Aufbau principle.
   • The sequence can be remembered using the diagonal rule or by memorizing the order.
   • The 4s orbital is filled before the 3d orbital, despite being higher in principal quantum number.

5. Electron capacity of orbitals (s=2, p=6, d=10, f=14)

   • Each type of orbital has a specific maximum number of electrons it can hold.
   • s orbitals can hold 2 electrons, p orbitals can hold 6, d orbitals can hold 10, and f orbitals can hold 14.
   • This capacity is derived from the formula 2n², where n is the principal quantum number.

6. Ground state vs. excited state configurations

   • Ground state configuration is the lowest energy arrangement of electrons in an atom.
   • Excited state configuration occurs when one or more electrons are promoted to higher energy levels.
   • Understanding these states is crucial for predicting chemical behavior and reactivity.

7. Valence electrons and core electrons

   • Valence electrons are the outermost electrons and are involved in chemical bonding.
   • Core electrons are those in filled inner shells and do not participate in bonding.
   • The number of valence electrons determines an element's chemical properties and reactivity.

8. Exceptions to the Aufbau Principle (Cr, Cu, etc.)

   • Some elements, like chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu), have electron configurations that deviate from the expected order.
   • These exceptions occur to achieve greater stability, often by half-filling or fully filling d orbitals.
   • Recognizing these exceptions is important for understanding transition metals.

9. Shorthand notation for electron configuration

   • Shorthand notation uses the nearest noble gas to simplify the electron configuration.
   • It allows for a more concise representation of an atom's electron arrangement.
   • For example, instead of writing the full configuration for argon (Ar), one can write [Ne]3s²3p⁶.

10. Noble gas configuration shorthand

    • Noble gas configurations represent the electron configuration of an atom using the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas.
    • This notation highlights the valence electrons and simplifies complex configurations.
    • It is particularly useful for quickly identifying the electron arrangement of elements in the periodic table.