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Electronic Structure
and Periodicity
General Chemistry 1 – Module 3

Engr. Joanna Congzon, ECT

Introduction
Rutherford

Nucleus : protons and neutrons

Electrons
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Stability of the atom

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Niels Bohr (1885-1962)
1. The stability of the hydrogen
atom (that the atom exists and
its electron does not
continuously radiate energy and
spiral into the nucleus).

2. The line spectrum of the atom

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I. Energy-level Postulate
An electron can have only specific energy values in
an atom, which are called its energy levels.
Therefore, the atom itself can have only specific
total energy values.
● Planck’s Quantum Theory

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Planck’s Quantum Theory
Electromagnetic
wavelengths
radiation

Amount of radiant
= wavelength
energy at certain
temperature
Planck’s Quantum Theory
- atoms and molecules could emit (or absorb)
energy only in discrete quantities, like small
packages or bundles.
Quantum - smallest quantity of energy that can
be emitted (or absorbed) in the form of
electromagnetic radiation.
E = nhv

Quantized – limited to
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certain values
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I. Energy-level Postulate
● Bohr devised a rule for the quantization that could
be applied to the motion of an electron in an atom.
𝑅𝐻
𝐸=− 𝑛 = 1, 2, 3 …
𝑛2

𝑅𝐻 - is a constant (expressed in energy units) with

the value 2.179 x 10−18 J

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I. Energy-level Postulate
𝑅𝐻
𝐸=− 𝑛 = 1, 2, 3 …
𝑛2
Energy of a free electron
Free electron - which is an electron that is infinitely
far from the nucleus (value of zero)
Ground state - lowest energy state of a system; stable
Excited state - higher in energy than the ground state

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II. Transitions Between Energy Levels
An electron in an atom can change energy only by
going from one energy level to another energy level.
By so doing, the electron undergoes a transition.

Higher transition Lower

energy energy
Loses energy as photon
level level

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Quantum Numbers
and Atomic Orbitals
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Quantum Mechanics
refers to the study of motion of
minute particles, such as electrons,
in relation to waves and the specific
amount of energy they can hold.

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Quantum Numbers

■ Principal Quantum Number (n)

■ Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l)
■ Magnetic Quantum Number (𝑚𝑙 )
Atomic orbitals - A wave function for 84

an electron in an atom
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■ Spin Quantum Number (𝑚𝑠 )
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Principal Quantum Number (n)
This quantum number is the one on which
the energy of an electron in an atom
principally depends; it can have any
positive value: 1, 2, 3, and so on.

n > Average distance 84

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Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l)
This quantum number
distinguishes orbitals of given n
having different shapes; it can have
any integer value from 0 to n - 1.
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Example:
n= 3
l = 0 to (n-1) Po
= (n-1) = (3-1) = 2 40 72 100

l = 0, 1, 2
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Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l)

■ sharp
■ diffuse
■ principal lines Subshells
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fundamental
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■

Example:
n = 2 2s and 2p 40 72 100
l = 0, 1

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Magnetic Quantum Number (𝑚𝑙 )
The magnetic quantum number (𝑚𝑙 ) describes
the orientation of the orbital in space.

𝑙 = 1 𝑚𝑙 = (2𝑙 + 1)
𝑚𝑙 = [(2)(1) + 1)] 84
𝑚𝑙 = 3
𝑚𝑙 = −1, 0, 1 Po
𝒎𝒍 = −𝒍 𝒕𝒐 + 𝒍 40 72 100

Example:
n = 2
l = 1 2p Three 2p orbitals. Zr Hl Fm
Spin Quantum Number (𝑚𝑠 )

This quantum number

refers to the two
possible orientations of
the spin axis of an
electron; possible 84

1 1
values are + 2 and − 2 .
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 End of Part 1!

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