II.

Atomic Orbitals

A. Atomic orbital 


1. A region in space where there is a high probability of finding an

electron. Atomic orbitals

B. Energy Levels of electrons (n)

1. Indicates the distance of the energy level from the nucleus

2. Values of n are positive integers

a. n=1 is closest to the nucleus, and K shell in energy.

3. The number of orbitals possible per energy level (or "shell") is equal
to n2

C. Energy Sublevels

1. Indicates the shape of the orbital

2. Number of orbital shapes allowed in an energy level = n 


​ a. Shapes in the first four shells are designated letters

Energy levels Sublevels Number of Number of Number of

(n) (s) orbital per electrons per electrons per
sublevel sublevel main energy
(n2) level (2n2)
1 s 1 2 2
2 s 1 2 8
p 3 6
3 s 1 2 18
p 3 6
d 5 10
f
4 s 1 2 32
p 3 6
d 5 10
f 7 14
D. Electron Spin

1. A single orbital can contain only 2 electrons, which must have opposite
spins

2. Two possible values for spin, +1/2 = ↑, -1/2 = ↓

II. Electron Arrangement in Atoms

I. Writing Electrons Configurations

A. Rules

1. Aufbau Principle: An electron occupies the lowest-energy orbital

that can receive it

2. Pauli Exclusion: an atomic orbital may describe at most two

electrons

No two electrons in the same atom can have the same set of four
quantum numbers

3. Hunds rule: Orbitals of equal energy are each occupied by one

electron before a second electron occupies any orbital, and all
electrons in singly occupied orbitals must have the same spin

↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑↓ ↑ ↑
2p 2p 2p
B. Orbital Notation


1. Unoccupied orbitals are represented by a line, _____

a. Lines are labeled with the principal quantum number and

the sublevel letter

2. Arrows are used to represent electrons

a. Arrows pointing up and down represent opposite spins

C. Electron Configuration Notation

1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p 5s 4d 5p 6s 4f 5d 6p 7s 5f 6d
7p

HOW TO WRITE AN ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

1. Locate the element whose electron configuration you wish to write in

the periodic table.

2. Fill orbitals in the proper order with electrons.

3. Check that the total number of electrons in the electron configuration

equals the atomic number.

Note:

1. The number of electrons in a sublevel is indicated by

adding a superscript to the sublevel designation

i. Hydrogen = 1s1
ii. Helium = 1s2
iii. Lithium = 1s2 2s1
iv. Potassium = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s3 3p6 4s1
D. Shorthand Notation /Nobel Gas Configuration
a. [] symbol is substituted in for the electron configuration of the
previous elements in its row.
b. After the Noble Gas Symbol, the outermost electrons are written in
regular electron configuration.
1
i. Li = [He] 2s
2 3
ii. B = [He] 2s 2p
2
iii. Mg = [Ne] 3s
2 6
iv. Ar = [Ne] 3s 3p