Chapter 4 Section 3

Standards
Standard 1 Matter
Describe the structure and arrangement of

atomic particles

Objectives
Describe the location and behavior of the electron
Define orbital and valence electron
List the four types of orbitals with their number of

electrons
Explain the energy levels of the modern model of
the atom in terms of orbitals and number of
electrons
Explain how the electron can jump energy levels
using photons

Objective 1: Describe the location

and behavior of the electron

Modern Model of the Atom

Quantum Mechanical Model (book calls it the electron-wave model)
Electrons can be found in certain energy levels
The locations of the electrons cannot be predicted
precisely

We cannot pin point an electron (Heisenbergs uncertainty

principle)

Electrons act as a both a wave and a particle

Just as Bohr saidelectrons are in certain energy levels

There are 7 energy levels within an atom
Electrons can gain energy to move to a higher energy

level
Electrons can lose energy to move to a lower energy
level

Objective 2: Define orbital and

valence electron

Orbitals and Special Electrons

Exact location of an electron cannot be determined
Scientists calculate the CHANCE of finding an electron
within a certain place within the electron cloud
To visually show the likelihood of finding an electron we
shade a certain area around the nucleus of an atom

Known as an orbital!

Valence electrons are special!

Outer most energy level of an atom
Determine the chemical properties of the atom
Looking at carbon how many valence electrons?
So how can you figure out how many valence electrons
are in an atom?

Objective 3: List the four types of

orbitals with their number of electrons

Electron Energy Levels and Orbitals

There are 7 energy levels that an atom can have
The number of energy levels filled depends on the
number of electrons
The number of electrons depends on the orbitals!

Since orbitals are the probable location of the electron

There are 4 types of orbitals that each hold a certain

number of electrons
s orbital 2 electrons

p orbital 6 electrons
d orbital 10 electrons
f orbital 14 electrons

Objective 4: Explain the energy levels of

the modern model of the atom in terms
of orbitals and number of electrons

Orbitals and Electrons for Energy Levels 1-4

Energy
Level

Number of orbitals Total number of

by type
orbitals
s

Number of
electrons

1 =1

2
X 2

1+3=4

1+3+5=9

18

1+3+5+7=16

32

Objective 5: Explain how the electron

can jump energy levels using photons

Electron Transitions
Electrons jump between energy levels when an atom

gains or loses energy

Lowest state of energy of an electron is known as
ground state
If an electron gains energy it moves to an excited state
An electron gains energy by absorbing a photon
Photon is a particle of light

Electrons release a photon when they move to lower

energy levels
Causes certain elements to release certain colors of light!

Electron transitioning
between energy levels
picture