General Chemistry - Atomic Structure

9 important questions on General Chemistry - Atomic Structure

Dalton's atomic theory

  • Elements are made of atoms unique to that element
  • Compounds are made of atoms from multiple elements
  • Reactions involve separation, combination, and rearrangement of atoms. No creation or destruction

E- configuration notation:

X: principal uantum number (n)
Y: subshell (l)
n: # electrons in the subshell

Principle quantum number n

Represents the shell that the electron is located in
  • Maximum value = row of the element on the periodic table
  • Maximum # electrons in any shell = 2n^2
  • As n increases, energy level and atomic radius also increase
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Change in energy between electron shells

ΔE = -Ry (1/nf^2 - 1/ni^2)

**nf = final shell
**ni = initial shell

Azimuthal quantum number (l)

Refers to the subshell within the shell where the electron lies
  • l is any integer where , 0 < l < n-1
         - l = 0, s
         - l = 1, p
         - l = 2, d
         - l = 3, f
  • Maximum # electrons in a shell = 4l + 2
  • As l increases, the energy of the subshell increases

Magnetic quantum number (ml)

Describes the orientation of the orbital
  • Each orbital can hold up to 2 electrons
  • Specifies which orbital the electron is likely to be found
  • ml is any integer where, -l < ml < l, including 0

Spin quantum number (ms)

Describes the spin orientation of an electron in an orbital
  • Only 2 spins, described as +1/2 or -1/2
  • 2 electronsin the same orbital (paired electrons) will have opposite spins

Angular momentum equation

L = nh/2π

Valence electrons by group on periodic table

IA, IIA - outer s electrons
**IIIA - VIIIA - outer s and p electrons
Transition elements - outer s and d shell electrons 
Inner transition elements - outer s, d and f electrons

**   May accept electrons into their empty d subshells

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