Electron Configurations (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

Electron Configurations Page 3

Electrons can begin to occupy energy levels with the next highest integer designation (e.g., 2 vs. 1, 3 vs. 2) only after

_____ on the energy level below it are occupied.

A. Half of the orbitals

B. at least one of the orbitals

C. all of the orbitals

The Pauli exclusion principle describes the restriction on the placement of electrons into the same orbital. The Pauli exclusion

principle can be expressed as: “If two electrons occupy the same orbital, they must have _____.” Circle the correct answer.

A. the same spin

B. opposite spins

Hund’s rule describes how electrons are distributed among orbitals of the same subshell when there is more than one way to

distribute them. Hund’s rule consists of two important ideas. Based on Model 2, circle the correct answer to each statement.

Electrons will pair up in an orbital only when _____.

A. there is an even number of electrons in the subshell

B. all orbitals in the same sublevel have one electron

The direction of the arrows represent the direction of the spin. When single electrons occupy different orbitals of the

same subshell, _____.

A. they all have the same spin

B. they all have different spins

C. their spins are random

Below are three answers by students in response to the prompt: “Provide an orbital diagram for the ground state of a nitrogen

atom.” In each case, indicate whether the answer is right or wrong, and if it is wrong, explain the error.

Answer A

Answer B

Answer C

Complete the ground state orbital energy level diagrams and write the corresponding electron configurations in the boxes below.

Sulfur

Silicon

Neon

Electron Configurations Page 3