The Electron Configuration

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE

ATOMIC THEORY
 Dalton’s Atomic Theory
• All matter is made up of indivisible and
indestructible particles called atoms.
• All atoms of a given element are identical both in
mass and properties.
• Compounds form when atoms of different
elements combine in ratios of small whole
numbers.
• Elements and compounds are composed of
definite arrangement of atoms. Chemical change
occurs when the atomic arrays are rearranged.
Dalton’s Atomic Model
 Thomson’s Cathode Ray Tube
Experiment
• Discovered the electrons.
• The discovery of the electron disproved the
part of Dalton's atomic theory that assumed
atoms were indivisible.
• In order to account for the existence of the
electrons, an entirely new atomic model was
needed.
Plum Pudding Model (Thomson)
 Plum Pudding Model (Thomson)
• Thomson knew that atoms had an overall neutral
charge.
• Therefore, he reasoned that there must be a source of
positive charge within the atom to counterbalance the
negative charge on the electrons.
• This led Thomson to propose that atoms could be
described as negative particles floating within a soup
of diffused positive charge.
• This model is often called the plum pudding model of
the atom, due to the fact that its description is very
similar to plum pudding, a popular English dessert.
 Rutherford’s Model of an Atom
• The next significant development of the theory of the
atom happened after the gold foil experiment of the
physicist from New Zealand, Ernest Rutherford.
• In his famous gold foil experiment, Rutherford fired a thin
beam of α particles at a very thin sheet of pure gold.
• Rutherford predicted that most of the α particles would
pass straight through the gold foil.
• The results of the experiment, however, were striking.
While almost all of the α particles passed straight through
the gold foil, a few α were deflected more than 90 degrees
from their path.
 Rutherford’s Model of an Atom
• The positive charge must be localized over a very
tiny volume of the atom, which also contains
most of the atom's mass. This explained how a
very small fraction of the α particles were
deflected drastically, presumably due to the rare
collision with a gold nucleus.
• Since most of the α particles passed straight
through the gold foil, the atom must be made up
of mostly empty space.
 Rutherford’s Model of an Atom
• So, Rutherford’s experiment replaced
Thomson’s theory of the plum pudding model.
Rutherford’s experiment paved the way for
the nuclear model of an atom.
• Still questions are left to be answered in this
case. Where are the electrons and what are
they doing? If the electrons are orbiting the
nucleus, why don’t they fall into the nucleus
as predicted by classical physics?
 The Hydrogen Atom
• In order to explain the stability of an atom, Neils Bohr
gave a new arrangement of electrons in the atom in
1913.
• According to Niels Bohr, the electrons could revolve
around the nucleus in only 'certain orbits' (energy
levels), each orbit having a different radius.
• When an electron is revolving in a particular orbit or
particular energy level around the nucleus, the
electron does not radiate energy (lose energy) even
though it has accelerated motion around the nucleus.
 Niels Bohr
(Born in Denmark 1885-1962)
• Student of Rutherford
 Niels Bohr’s Model (1913)

• Electrons orbit the

nucleus in circular
paths of fixed
energy (energy
levels).
 Energy of Emitted Photon
• Electrons can jump from one energy level to
another.
• Electrons absorb or emit light energy when
they jump from one energy level to another.
• Energy emitted by the electron as it leaps from
the higher to the lower energy level is
proportional to the frequency of the light wave.
• Frequency define the color of visible light.
 Quantum

• A quantum of energy is the amount of

energy required to move an electron
from one energy level to another.
The energy levels are like the rungs of
a ladder but are not equally spaced.
 Photons
• Photons are bundles of light energy that is
emitted by electrons as they go from higher
energy levels to lower levels.
 Excited State and Ground State
• Ground state: the lowest possible energy level
an electron be at.

• Excited state: an energy level higher than the

ground state.
 Emission Spectrum
• Light emitted produces a unique emission
spectrum.
Hydrogen Emission Spectrum

Violet
Blue
Red

Balmer
Series
Bohr Model for Hydrogen
 Bohr’s Nuclear Atom
• An atom is made up of three particles, electrons,
protons and neutrons. Electrons have a negative
charge and protons have a positive charge
whereas neutrons have no charge. They are
neutral. Due to the presence of equal number of
negative electrons and positive protons, the
atom as a whole is electrically neutral.
• The protons and neutrons are located in a small
nucleus at the center of the atom. Due to the
presence of protons, the nucleus is positively
charged.
 Bohr’s Nuclear Atom
• The electrons revolve rapidly around the
nucleus in fixed circular paths.
• Each path is associated with a fixed amount of
energy. The shell nearest to the nucleus has
minimum energy and the shell farthest from
the nucleus has maximum energy.
 The Bohr Model
• The Bohr model explained the emission
spectrum of the hydrogen atom but did
not always explain those of other
elements.
 Quantum Mechanical Model

•Werner Heisenberg (Uncertainty Principle)

•Louis de Broglie (electron has wave properties)
•Erwin Schrodinger (mathematical equations
using probability, quantum numbers)
 Werner Heisenberg: Uncertainty Principle

• We can not know both

the position and
momentum of a particle
at a given time.
 Louis de Broglie, (France, 1892-1987)
Wave Properties of Matter (1923)
•Since light waves have a
particle behavior (as shown by
Einstein in the
Photoelectric Effect), then
particles could have a wave
behavior.
•de Broglie wavelength
 h
mv
 Erwin Schrodinger, 1925
Quantum (wave) Mechanical Model of the
Atom
• Developed the model in
1926.
• Combined the equations
for the behavior of wave
with the de Broglie
equation to generate a
model of the
distribution of electrons
in an atom.
 Erwin Schrodinger, 1925
Quantum (Wave) Mechanical Model of the
Atom

• Describes the probability

that an electron can be
found in a given region
of space.
• The electron occupies
three-dimensional
space.
 Erwin Schrodinger, 1925
Quantum (Wave) Mechanical Model of the
Atom

• Three coordinates are

needed to specify the
probable location where
an electron can be
found.
• These coordinates are
now known as the
quantum numbers.
 Let us review!!!
Unscramble the letters in red to
get the correct answer.
 Quantum Mechanical Model: A
review…
• According to Bohr, the electrons move around
the nucleus in circular orbits with fixed
EGYREN LELVES.
• ENERGY LEVELS
• When an electron jumps from a higher to a
lower energy level, it EMTIS light or radiant
energy.
• EMITS
 Quantum Mechanical Model: A
review…
• The quantum mechanical model describes the
PROBILITYAB that an electron can be found in
a given region of space.
• PROBABILITY
• The electrons occupy three-dimensional space
thus three COORTESDINA are needed to
describe their location.
• COORDINATES
 Quantum Mechanical Model: A
review…
• These coordinates are now known as the
QUAMNTU NUMSBER.
• QUANTUM NUMBERS
THE QUANTUM NUMBERS
 LESSON OBJECTIVES

1.Define quantum numbers.

2.Describe the valence electrons of an atom in
terms of the four quantum numbers.
3.Demonstrate personal discipline in
maintaining accuracy in assigning quantum
numbers to electrons in an atom.
 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. What are quantum numbers?
2. What are the four quantum numbers?
3. What values can each quantum number take
in order for it to describe an electron in an
atom?
 Orbital
A region in space in which there is high
probability of finding an electron.
 Quantum
• A quantum of energy is the amount of energy
required to move an electron from one energy
level to another.
 Quantum Numbers
A set consisting of four numbers that tells the
most likely location of every electron in an
atom.
 Four Quantum Numbers
1. Principal Quantum Number
2. Orbital Quantum Number
3. Magnetic Quantum Number
4. Spin Quantum Number
 Principal Quantum Number, n
• Indicates main shell or energy level
n = 1, 2, 3, 4…
– Corresponds to the period number in the periodic
table.

• Each main energy level has sub-levels or

subshells.
 Angular Quantum Number, ℓ
(Azimuthal Quantum Number)
• Indicates subshell and shape of the orbital.
• ℓ = n-1
ℓ subshell
0 s
1 p
2 d
3 f
4 g
 Angular Quantum Number, ℓ
(Azimuthal Quantum Number)
Atomic Orbital s

2s
 The p orbitals

http://www.rmutphysics.com/CHARUD/scibook/crystal-structure/porbital.gif
• The d orbitals
f orbitals
 Magnetic Quantum Number, ml
• Indicates the orientation of the orbital in space.
• Values of ml : integers -l to l
• The number of values represents the
number of orbitals.
• The three quantum numbers Example:
for l= 2, ml = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2

Which sublevel does this represent?

Answer: d
 Spin Quantum Number, (ms)

• Indicates the spin of the electron (up or down).

• Values of ms: +1/2, -1/2
The Quantum Number Chart
 The Electron Configuration and
the Quantum Numbers
Let’s take for example the electron configuration of
hydrogen:

Energy
Level, (n)
1s 1 Number of
electron in
the orital

Subshell, (l)
•The electron configuration is derived from the quantum numbers of all
the electrons in the atom.
 Spin Quantum Number (ms)
• The equation of the Quantum model formulated
by Schrodinger predicted the existence of the
first three quantum numbers namely: Principal
(n), Angular (l), & Magnetic (ml).
• Emission spectra of atoms were observed to
always occur in pairs.
• Physicist Wolfgang Pauli studied and found out
that orbitals can only hold no more than two
electrons.
 Spin Quantum Number (ms)
• He theorized that no two electrons in an atom
can have the same set of quantum numbers
known as the Pauli Exclusion Theory.
• He found out that electrons spin in opposite
directions with the orbital. One spinning up
and the second spinning down.
• +1/2 for up and -1/2 for down
 Assigning Quantum Numbers to
Valence Electrons in an Atom
• Determine the electrons occupying the highest
energy level.
• Assign quantum numbers to each electron in the
valence shell in the format (n, l, ml, ms).
• Use Hund’s Rule as guide to fill up the spin
quantum number, ms.
• Hund’s Rule states that every orbital must be
filled up singly before any orbital is doubly
occupied.
The Electron Configuration
The Periodic Table of Elements
The Quantum Number Chart
 Example 1
Assign the quantum numbers for the valence
electrons of calcium.
•Valence Electrons: Ca –
Electron n l ml ms Quantum
Numbers
 Example 2
Assign the quantum numbers for the valence
electrons of aluminum.
Electron n l ml ms Quantum
Numbers
 Example 3
Assign the quantum numbers for the valence
electrons of bromine.
Assign the quantum numbers for the valence
electrons of bromine.
Electron n l ml ms Quantum
Numbers
 Let us do a recap…
1.What are quantum numbers?
•A set consisting of four numbers that tells the most
likely location of every electron in an atom.
2. What are the four quantum numbers?
•PRINCIPAL QUANTUM NUMBER
•ANGULAR QUANTUM NUMBER
•MAGNETIC QUANTUM NUMBER
•SPIN QUANTUM NUMBER
3. What values can the principal quantum number take?
•n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…
4. What values can the angular quantum number take?
•l = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…
5. What values can the magnetic quantum number take?
•ml = -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3
6. What values can the spin quantum number take?
•ms = +1/2, -1/2
7. How do we assign quantum numbers for valence
electrons in an atom?
•Determine the electrons occupying the highest energy
level.
•Assign quantum numbers to each electron in the valence
shell in the format (n, l, ml, ms).
•Use Hund’s Rule as guide to fill up the spin quantum
number, ms.
 On your own…
• Assign quantum numbers to the valence
electrons of the following elements.
1.Silicon
2.Nitrogen
 Silicon – [3s 3p ]
2 2

Electron n l ml ms Quantum
Numbers
3s1 3 0 0 +1/2 3, 0, 0, +1/2

3s2 3 0 0 -1/2 3, 0, 0, -1/2

3p1 3 1 -1 +1/2 3, 1, -1, +1/2

3p2 3 1 0 +1/2 3, 1, 0, +1/2

 Nitrogen – [2s 2p ]
2 3

Electron n l ml ms Quantum
Numbers
2s1 2 0 0 +1/2 2, 0, 0,+1/2

2s2 2 0 0 -1/2 2, 0, 0, -1/2

2p1 2 1 -1 +1/2 2, 1, -1, +1/2

2p2 2 1 0 +1/2 2, 1, 0, +1/2

2p3 2 1 1 +1/2 2,1, 1, +1/2

 Let us check our understanding…
1. is the quantum number
that describes an electron’s energy level.
2. is the quantum number
that describes the subshell and shape of the
orbital.
3. is the quantum number
that describes the orientation of the orbital
in space.
 Let us check our understanding…
4. is the quantum number
that describes an electron’s spin which can
be either up or down.
5. Assign quantum numbers to the valence
electrons of boron.
 Quantum Mechanics and
Fireworks

“The brilliant display of colors in fireworks are

actually just excited atoms taking a leap… Not
just any leap but a leap high enough to take
them to the next higher energy level…”

A quantum leap….
 A thought to ponder…

“Doing is a quantum leap

from imagining.”
-Barabara Sher
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING… 
 The Electron Configuration
• The distribution of all electrons in atom.
• Divides the periodic table into the s, p, d, and f
blocks.
• Written starting from the lowest to the
highest energy level.
• The highest energy level corresponds to the
period or row in the periodic table where the
element belongs.
 Assigning Quantum Numbers to
Electrons in an Atom
• Step 1:
 The Electron Cloud

• The electron cloud represents positions

where there is probability of finding an
electron.
 The Electron Cloud
The higher
the electron
density, the
higher the
probability
that an
electron may
be found in
that region.
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The Electron Cloud for Hydrogen

90% probability
of finding the
electron within
this space
Probability Curve for Hydrogen
 FYI: Schrodinger’s Equations!!!
• is called the wave function and
indicates the probability of where an
electron may be found.
 Quantum Mechanical Model
• Electrons are located in specific energy
levels.

• There is no exact path around the

nucleus.

• The model estimates the probability of

finding an electron in a certain position.