Electronic Structure of Atoms

Unit code:
FHSC1134

Unit title:
Inorganic Chemistry

Course of study:
Foundation in
Science

Chapter Scopes Introduction

Modern Atomic Theory

Inorganic chemistry study of all the

Bohr Theory elements in the periodic table.

Concept of Quantum Numbers

Principles of Aufbau, Pauli Exclusion and
Studies include: structures, properties and
Hunds Rule reactivities of the elements and their

Electronic configuration (spdf & box compounds depending on their position in
notation) periodic table.

Divided into
Periodic Table s-block = group 1, 2 & 18 (He only)

Elements are placed in order of their atomic p-block = group 13 -18 (except He)
number / proton number d-block = group 3 -12(Transition

Horizontal rows = periods Elements)

Vertical columns = groups f-block = bottom of periodic table

7 Periods (3 short periods, 4 long periods) (Lanthanide and actinide series)

18 Groups.

The modern Periodic Law states that the

Same group elements have same number
properties of the elements are a periodic
of valence electrons.
function of their proton (atomic) number.

1
 Group Classification of the Elements
1
into the s, p, d and f Blocks
2

3
Period

Modern Atomic Theory Structure of An Atom

An element is composed of tiny particles called
atoms.

Atoms of an element show same chemical
properties

All atoms made up by protons, neutrons and
electrons

The protons and neutrons of an atom are found
in its nucleus

Electrons are portrayed as occupying a volume
of space called orbital around the nucleus

Atoms have no net charge

Table: Properties & Location of Protons, Bohr Theory

Neutrons & Electrons In Atom
Subatomic Symbol Relative Mass Mass Location
Particle electrical (g) (amu)
Bohr simplest model of a hydrogen atom
charge was one in which the lone electron moved
Proton p+ +1 1.6726 1 In the in a circular orbit around the nucleus.
x 10-24 nucleus
Electron e- -1 9.1094 0.0005 Outside
Its referred to Plancks Quantum Theory,
x 10-28 the which states that energy can be absorbed
nucleus
or emitted in a fixed amount called quanta.
Neutron n0 0 1.6749 1 In the
x 10-24 nucleus
1 atomic mass unit (amu) = 1.6605 x 10-24 g

2
 Bohr Theory Bohr Model of the Hydrogen Atom

Bohrs postulation on the hydrogen atom model:
1 H
1
 Lone electron revolves round the nucleus in fixed
circular path known as orbits.
1 p, 1 e-
n=1
 Energy of each orbit is associated with a fixed amount n=2
of energy (energy is quantised)
n=3
 Energy of orbits increases with their distance from the
nucleus.
 Each orbit is represent by an integer known as principle nucleus
quantum number, n. The orbit closest to nucleus is
given the principle quantum number, n = 1. Possible electron orbits

An electron is at the ground state, if it is stable and

remain at its lowest energy orbital. Example

An electron is excited to a higher state (excited state)
by absorbing the necessary energy. The wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation
obtained when an electron falls back from fifth
energy level to the first energy level of hydrogen

Excess energy in the transition between ground and
atom is 117 nm.
excited state, E, is released in the form of light.
E = hf = h(c/)
Determine the energy difference in J and kJ/mol
f = frequency (s-1 ); h = Planks constant (6.63 x 10-34 Js) between two levels.
c= speed of light (3.00 x 108 m s-1); = wavelength (m)

However, this theory does not apply to atoms with 2

or more electrons (Answer: 1.7 x 10-18 J, 1023.40 kJ/mol)

Quantum numbers Quantum Numbers

The shape, size, and energy of each orbital is a
function of three quantum numbers which describe the
location of an electron within an atom or ion.
n (principal)  shell / energy level
1) Principal quantum number, n

Known as electron shell / electron level

Values = positive integer (1, 2, 3, 4)

n , electrons average distance from the nucleus

l (orbital)  subshell / shape of orbitals

ml (magnetic)  orientation of orbitals
There is another quantum number that determine the
direction of the electrons in the orbitals.
ms (spin)  spin of the electrons
(clockwise or counterclockwise: or )
2) Angular momentum quantum number, l

subshell / orbital shape / orbital type

Values = positive integer from 0 to ( n -1 )

No. of orbitals in subshell = 2l + 1

energy in sublevels increase in the order of
ns < np < nd < nf

3
 Subshells and Orbitals Shape of Atomic Orbitals
l Subshell Number of orbitals in
subshell = 2l + 1
0 s 1
1 p 3
2 d 5
3 f 7
4 g 9
5 h 11 s orbital p orbital d orbital

Quantum Numbers
3) Magnetic quantum number, ml

orientation of the orbitals in a subshell

Values = integer; from l to +l include 0

All these orbitals have same energy

Example :
when l = 2,
ml has 5 values: -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
l = 1, p subshell, ml = 1, 0, -1
4) Spin quantum number, ms three orbitals with same energy level

orientations for electron spin (degenerate)

ms = +1/2 () or -1/2 ()

Relationships of the Quantum Numbers (n, l, ml)

n l ml Type of Orbitals No. of e- No. of Exercise
orbitals available possible orbitals
in the in in in shell
subshell subshell subshell
Give the n, l and ml values for the following
[2(2l + 1)] (n2)
(2l +1) orbitals.
1 0 0 1s 1 2 1
a) 3p
2 0 0 2s 1 2 4
1 +1, 0, -1 2p
b) 5d
3 6
3 0 0 3s 1 2 c) 4s
1 +1, 0, -1 3p 3 6 9 d) 5p
2 +2, +1, 0, -1, -2 3d 5 10
4 0 0 4s 1 2
How many orbitals present in the electron shell
1 +1, 0, -1 4p 3 6 16
with the principal quantum number of n = 3?
2 +2, +1, 0, -1, -2 4d 5 10
3 +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3 4f 7 14

4
 Electron Configuration 3 Rules to determine the exact
ground state electron configuration

How electrons are arranged in their shells,
subshells and orbitals 1) Aufbau Principle

Hydrogen electron configuration :
Orbitals are filled in the order of increasing energy
spdf notation or Orbital box notation from lowest level to highest level

Subshells in atom are filled in order of increasing
1s1 Number of electrons n+l
assigned to designated
subshell 1s
Electron filling order :
Electron
shell (n) Orbital type (l) 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p 5s
[subshell] 4d 5p 6s 4f 5d..

Aufbau Principle
Steps:
1s 2) Pauli Exclusion Principle
1. Write the energy levels top to
bottom.
No 2 electrons in an atom can have the same set of
2s 2p 2. Write the orbitals in s, p, d, f order. 4 quantum numbers (n, l, ml, ms)
Write the same number of orbitals
as the energy level.
3s 3p 3d 3. Draw diagonal lines from the top
No atomic orbital can contain > 2 electrons
right to the bottom left.
4s 4p 4d 4f 4. To get the correct order,
follow the arrows!
Each orbital can hold up to 2 electrons with spins
paired (opposite spin directions)
5s 5p 5d 5f 5g?

6s 6p 6d 6f 6g? 6h?
7s 7p 7d 7f 7g? 7h? 7i?

3) Hunds Rule Example : 7N

When there is a set of orbitals of equal energy,
each orbital becomes half-filled before any of them
1s 2s 2p
becomes completely filled

The most stable arrangement of electron is that More stable than

with the maximum number of unpaired electrons
(with the same spin direction) 1s 2s 2p
The total energy of an atom as low as or
possible

5
 Electron Configurations Elements Orbital Box Diagram Electron Noble Gas
Configuration Notation
Elements Orbital Box Diagram Electron Noble Gas 1s 2s 2px 2py 2pz 3s
Configuration Notation N (7) 1s22s22p3 [He] 2s22p3
1s 2s 2px 2py 2pz
H (1) 1s1 O (8) 1s22s22p4 [He] 2s22p4
He (2) 1s2
F (9) 1s22s22p5 [He] 2s22p5
Li (3) 1s22s1 [He] 2s1
Ne (10) 1s22s22p6 [He] 2s22p6
Be (4) 1s22s2 [He] 2s2

B (5) 1s22s22p1 [He] 2s22p1 Na (11) 1s22s22p63s1 [Ne] 3s1

C (6) 1s22s22p2 [He] 2s22p2 Mg (12) 1s22s22p63s2 [Ne] 3s2

Exercise Learning Outcomes

Write the electronic configuration for Phosphorous, P
(Z = 15),
Understand the basic concepts and properties of
atom
(a) using orbital box notation

Write the electron configuration using spdf & box
(b) spdf notation notation

Describe the structure of atoms in terms of Bohr
(a) P : theory and modern atomic theory

Understand the principles of Pauli, Aufbau and
Hunds rule, and use these principles to build up
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p atomic structure
(b) P : 1s 2s 2p 3s23p3
2 2 6
Understand the concept of quantum number