AMITY UNIVERSITY, MOHALI

Term Paper

ISHITA SINGH
Roll No. BHGM/21/002
General Chemistry
Dr. Rohini Kanwar
01/03/2021
Answer 1: Effective Nuclear Charge

The magnitude of the shielding effect is difficult to calculate precisely. As an

approximation, we can estimate the effective nuclear charge on each
electron.

The effective nuclear charge (often symbolized as Zeff or Z*) is the net
positive charge experienced by an electron in a multi-electron atom. The
term “effective” is used because the shielding effect of negatively charged
electrons prevents higher orbital electrons from experiencing the full
nuclear charge.

The effective nuclear charge on an electron is given by the following

equation:

Zeff = Z – S

Where Z is the number of protons in the nucleus (atomic number), and S is

the number of electrons between the nucleus and the electron in question
(the number of non-valence electrons).

In order to calculate effective nuclear charge, we first must understand

Slater‟s Rule:
Slater‟s rules are a guideline for determining shielding and, therefore, Zeff.
Slater's rules allow you to estimate the effective nuclear charge Zeff from the
real number of protons in the nucleus and the effective shielding of
electrons in each orbital "shell".

The first step is to write the electron configuration of the atom.

Then, we identify the electron of interest and name its shell as „n‟.

Slater‟s rule is divided into:

o Shielding experienced by electron in s or p orbital:

 Electrons within the same group (n) shield 0.35
 Electrons within n-1 group shield 0.85
 Electrons within n-2 or lower group shield 1.0

o Shielding experienced by electron in d or f orbital:

 Electrons within the same group (n) shield 0.35
 Electrons within lower groups shield 1.0
Example:

Effective nuclear charge on 5s electron in Ag:

Ag = 1s2, 2s2 2p6, 3s2 3p6 3d10, 4s2 4p6 4d10, 5s1

S (screening constant) = 0 x 0.35 + 18 x 0.85 + 28 x 1

= 0 + 15.3 + 28

= 43.3

Z* (effective nuclear charge) = Atomic number – Screening constant

= 47 – 43.3

= 3.7

Answer 2:

From the radial probability distribution curve, we can see that 2p orbital is
slightly closer to the nucleus core (1s) than 2s orbital but according to that
2p should have had a lower energy but, we know for a fact that 2s has lower
energy as electrons are filled in 2s after 1s. This is because:

 The first hump of 2s orbital penetrates 1s2 core (K shell) and due to this
penetration, 2s electron gets shielded from other electrons and feels
 more nuclear charge. As a result, 2s electron is attracted more strongly
by the nucleus than a 2p electron.
 Consequently, on considering the radial probability distribution curve,
we can see that the maxima of 2p orbital is slightly nearer to the nucleus
than that of 2s orbital is nearer to the nucleus than that of 2s orbital.
Thus, 2p should have lower energy. However, there‟s a small additional
peak in 2s which indicates that a 2s electron spends some of its time
near the nucleus. Thus, 2s electron penetrates 1s core and due to the
penetration, 2s electron gets less shielded from other electrons and feels
more nuclear charge.

Thus, 2p orbital has more energy than 2s orbital.