STPM CHEMISTRY

TERM 1 (962/1)

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

2.1

E L E C TR ON IC L E V EL S O F AT O M IC H YD RO G E N

The formation of the emission line spectrum of atomic hydrogen

1. When a sample of hydrogen gas in a discharge tube is sparked under low voltage at low
pressure, the hydrogen molecules (H2)
to form free hydrogen atoms (H).
2. The Born Model of the hydrogen atom:

Energy

excited/
promoted
emit

E6
E5

n=6
n=5

E4

n=4

E3

n=3

break/
dissociate
radiation
unstable

E2

n=2

equal
one electron

n=1

quantum/
photon

in shell n = 1 in the ground state.

quantised

E1
3. The hydrogen atom has

4. When a hydrogen atom absorbs energy, the electron is

energy level.

to a higher

5. The excited electron is

at higher energy level. It will
the excess energy
as
and drops to lower energy levels through one step or several steps.
6. The energy emitted is
where the transition occurs.

to the energy difference between the two energy levels

converge
Balmer
Lyman

7. Each transition of electron gives out (emits) a

of energy of definite frequency that
contributes one line to the spectrum. This fixed amount of energy is also known as quantised
energy or a photon of energy.

Paschen

8.

visible

transitions emit

series is obtained when the excited electron falls back to n = 1. These electron
radiations at definite frequency.

infrared

series is obtained when the excited electron falls back to n = 2. These electron
lights at definite frequency.

ultraviolet

transitions emit

9.

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

10.

series is obtained when the excited electron falls back to n = 3. These electron transitions emit
lights at definite frequency.
The emission spectrum of hydrogen atom

11. The emission spectrums consist of discrete lines because the energy levels are
12. When the frequency increases, the lines in the spectrum
levels which are further away from the nucleus converge.

because the higher energy

The emission line spectrums of elements

Emission spectrum for each element is unique.

Example 1: The emission spectrum of hydrogen atom

The figure belowshows several lines of the Lyman series in the emission spectrum of a hydrogen atom.

(a)

Using a labelled energy level diagram, show how the line marked X on the spectrum is formed.

(b)

Draw an emission spectrum for a He ion that corresponds to the Lyman series of a hydrogen atom.

STPM 2004

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

Example 2: The emission spectrum of hydrogen atom

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)
STPM 2005

Which of the following statements is true of the hydrogen line spectrum?

A The number of lines in each series is the same.
B The first line in each series has the lowest frequency.
C The lines in a series become closer when the frequency decreases.
D The ionisation energy of hydrogen can be calculated from the frequency of the first line of the Lyman series.
Example 3: The emission spectrum of hydrogen atom

STPM 2006

The energy-level diagram for a hydrogen atom shows several electronic transitions with frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4 and f5.

Which of the following statements is/are true of the above diagram?

1 f1 represents the convergence limit of the Lyman series.
2 f1, f2 and f3 represent lines in the Lyman series.
3 f4 and f5 are used to calculate the difference between the energy levels of n = 3 and n = 4.
STPM 2006

Formulae: The emission spectrum of hydrogen atom

Where

2 .2

= Energy difference between energy levels (J)

= Plancks constant = 6.63 1034 J s
= Frequency of light (s1 @ Hz)
= Speed of light = 3.00 108 m s1
= Wavelength of light (m)

T H E I ON IS AT I ON EN E RG Y OF H Y DR OGE N

1. Define IONISATION ENERGY of hydrogen:

It is the minimum energy absorbed/ required to remove one electron from every atom in 1 mol of gaseous
hydrogen atoms.

Equation:

2.

Lyman Series (H atom)

This is the Convergence line/ Convergence limit.

Maximum frequency, 3.29 X 1015 s1
Corresponds to electron transition from n = to n = 1
The = 0 s1

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

3. Ionisation energy of hydrogen can be calculated from:
the frequency of the transition between levels n =
to n =
.
the m
frequency in the Lyman series.
The frequency of the c
line in the Lyman series.
Example 4: The Ionisation energy of hydrogen atom
The frequency of the convergence line for the Lyman series for a hydrogen atom is 3.29 X 10
1
ionisation energy for: (a) per electron (Unit: J), (b) per mole electron (Unit: kJ mol ).

15

Hz. Calculate the

Example 5: The Ionisation energy of hydrogen atom

The frequencies of the first four lines in the Lyman series
15
are: 2.56, 2.92, 3.08, 3.16 ( x 10 Hz )
Plot a suitable linear graph to determine the ionisation energy
1
of hydrogen in kJ mol .

CONSTANTS /
UNITS:

Solution:
The Rydbergs equation for the Lyman series is:
1

Hence,

= RH

1
1
2 2
1

RH RH

= RH
=

RH = 1.097 107 m1
Frequency, v: s1 @ Hz
because

Light speed, c = 3.00 107 m1

Plancks constant, h = 6.63 1034 J s
Principal quantum number, n =
Avogadros constant, NA = 6.02 1023 mol1

1
A graph of frequency, v against is 2 plotted:

Frequency, (x 10

15

Hz)

2.46
2.92
3.08
3.16

2
3
4
5

0.250

The ionisation of hydrogen corresponds to the maximum frequency;

1
1
i.e. When 2 = 2 = 0

From the graph, Maximum frequency =

The ionisation energy of hydrogen =

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

[STPM 2013]

Example 6: The Ionisation energy of hydrogen atom

The frequencies of the first six lines in the Lyman series of a hydrogen atom is shown in the table below.
Spectrum line

Frequency, /

First

2.46

Second

2.92

Third

3.08

Fourth

3.16

Fifth

3.20

Sixth

3.22

(a)

Complete the above table.

[1 mark]

(b)

Plot a graph of v against frequency to determine the convergence limit for the Lyman series.

[3 marks]

The convergence limit for the Lyman series:

(c)

Calculate the ionisation energy, in kJ mol , of the hydrogen atom.

2.3

[3 marks]

A T O M IC O RB IT A LS

1. The main/ principal energy levels in an atom are represented by the letter

2. Each energy level consists of different numbers and types of ORBITALS/ SUB-SHELLS:
ATOMIC ORBITALS: The regions of space in which there is a 99% probability of finding a particular electron.

Number and type of orbitals in energy level

5
3

Number and type of orbitals in energy level

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

3. The orbitals differ in term of their shape and their directional property:
1s orbital
3s orbital

s-orbitals

2s orbital

2px orbital

2py orbital

p-orbitals

2pz orbital

4. Each orbital can only take in two electrons. Therefore, the maximum number of electrons in a shell = 2n .
State the maximum number of electrons allowed to occupy the following energy levels:

n = 1:

n = 3:

n = 2:

n = 4:

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

2.4

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)

E L E C TR ON IC C ON F I GU R AT IO N

1. The rules for filling up electrons (in an atom or ion) into orbitals are as follows:
(a) Aufbau principle:

State the relative energies of s, p and d orbitals:

(b) Pauli Exclusion principle:

(c) Hunds rule:

What are DEGENERATE ORBITALS?

Why Hunds rule?

2. State the electronic configuration for each of the following atoms:

Block

Atom

Proton number, Z

He

Li

Be

Electronic configuration

Valence configuration

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

Block

Atom

Proton number, Z

Ne

10

Na

11

Mg

12

Al

13

Si

14

15

16

Cl

17

Ar

18

19

Ca

20

Sc

21

Ti

22

23

Cr

24

Mn

25

Fe

26

Co

27

Ni

28

Cu

29

Zn

30

Electronic configuration

3. State the electronic configuration for each of the following ions:

Ions
Proton number, Z
Electronic configuration
+

Li
O

11

2+

12

Na
Mg

3+

13

19

2+

20

Al

Ca

3+

22

3+

24

2+

25

2+

26

3+

26

2+

29

2+

30

Ti

Cr

Mn
Fe
Fe

Cu
Zn

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)
Valence configuration

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

Example 7: Atomic orbitals: s, p and d & Electronic configuration
(a)
(b)

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)
[STPM 2002]

Sketch the energy level diagram for the orbitals of an atom (other than hydrogen) with the principal quantum
number of n = 1 to n = 3.
Using arrows to represent electrons, show on the diagram sketched above the electronic arrangement of a
carbon atom in the excited state.
[3]

[STPM]

Example 8: Electronic configuration

Sodium-24 isotope is used in medicine to study the blood circulatory system.
(a)

Write the electronic configuration of sodium-24 isotope.

[1]

(b)

How many orbitals of sodium-24 isotope are fully filled?

[1]

(c)

State the orbitals of sodium-24 ion which contain valence electrons.

[1]

(d)

State one reason why sodium-24 isotope is rarely found in its natural state.

[1]

[STPM 2006]

Example 9: Electronic configuration

Chemists of ancient times prepared phosphorus, P, from urine.
(a)

Write the electronic configuration of the phorphorus atom.

[1]

(b)

Draw the shape of one orbital containing the valence electrons of the phorphorus atom.

[1]

(c)

State one of the phorphorus atomic orbitals that are filled according to Hunds rule.

[1]

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

[STPM]

Example 10: Electronic configuration

The two stable aqueous ions of iron are the iron(II) and iron(III) ions. With respect to the electronic configurations,
which ions of iron are more stable? Give the electronic configuration of that ion.

[STPM]

Example 11: Electronic configuration

An element X is in the Group 9 and Period 4 in the Periodic Table.
Discuss the application of the Aufbaus principle in the construction of the electronic configuration of X.

[3]

Solution:
Aufbaus principle:

Energy levels (in increasing order):

Electronic configuration of X:
[STPM]

Example 12: Electronic configuration

Hunds rule, Pauli exclusion principle and Aufbau principle are used to determine the ground state electronic
configuration of an atom.
(a)

State the rule and principles.

[3]

Hunds rule::
Pauli Exclusion principle:
Aufbaus principle:
(b)

Describe how the two principles are applied to oxide ion, O

2,

as an example.

[3]

The number of electrons in O2 ion:

Step 1: Apply Aufbaus principle and Pauli exclusion principle.
Two electrons in opposite spin are filled into 1s orbital first.

Step 2:

2s

2p

1s

2s

2p

1s

2s

2p

1s

2s

2p

Two more electrons are filled into 2s orbital.

Step 3: Apply Hunds rule.

2px, 2py and 2pz orbitals are filled singly with three electrons
in parallel spin.
Step 4:

1s

The remaining three electrons are also filled into 2px, 2py and
2pz orbitals in opposite spin.

10

TOPIC 2: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

STPM CHEMISTRY
TERM 1 (962/1)
[STPM 2008]

Example 13: Electronic configuration

If two or more orbitals with equal energy are available, the orbitals are each filled with one electron, with the
electrons having parallel spins, before a second electron of the opposite spin is added.
(a)

Name the above rule.

[1]

(b)

Draw a diagram showing valence shells filled with valence electrons for an atom X with proton number 28. [1]

(c)

State the number of unpaired electrons in atom X.

(d)

Why does the total energy of atom X decrease when there is a transfer of an electron from one subshell to
another?
[1]

[1]

11