Atomic Orbitals and The Electron Dart Lab

Electron Configurations
Aka, where the electrons hang out in atoms
• What did we learn
from dropping the
darts on to the
target?

• Quantum
calculations show
the same thing for
actual atoms

The Quantum Mechanical Atom Atomic Orbitals

• Best thought of as a region of
space in which there is a high
• SchrÖdinger’s Equation probability of finding an
• assumed the electron was electron
a standing wave • Remember, we can’t know
for sure unless we
• By solving the equation, measure
determined the probability of
finding an electron in a given • Solving the SchrÖdinger
region around the nucleus. equation leads to the four
quantum numbers that
• These regions are called describe these clouds of
probability
orbitals
 First quantum number (n) Second quantum number (l)
• Sublevels

• Principal energy level • Called s, p, d, f (sharp, principal,

diffuse, fundamental)
• n can have integral values of 1, 2, 3, …etc. • Can take on any integral value

• Determines distance from the nucleus starting with 0 up to a maximum

of n-1.
• When n = 1, lowest energy level • When l = 0, refers to s
• Maximum capacity of principal level = 2n 2
• when l = 1, refers to p

• when l = 2, refers to d

• when l = 3, refers to f

Third quantum number (ml) Fourth quantum number (ms)

• Orbitals

• Has values from -l to + l, including 0

• This number determines the orientation of the electron cloud

• Electron “spin”
surrounding the nucleus.
• Electron in an orbital can have either of two
• Capacity of each orbital is 2 electrons. spins
• Total number of orbitals in a shell is 2n

• When l =0, ml = 0 (only 1 orbital)

• ms = +1/2 or -1/2
• Paramagnetism and diamagnetism are
• When l =1, ml = -1, 0, 1 (3 orbitals) explained using spin number.

• When l =2, ml = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 (5 orbitals)

 Electron Configurations Aufbau Diagram
• The way that electrons are arranged around the nucleus.

• Follow three rules:

1. Aufbau Principle-

• Electrons occupy the lowest possible energy level first

2. Pauli Exclusion Principle-

• Each orbital can only hold 2 electrons with opposite spin

3. Hund’s Rule-

• when filling orbitals of equal energy, each electron goes in

its own orbital before doubling up