Unit 2: Electronic Structure of the Atom

Learning Objectives-Electronic Structure of the Atom

You will be able to:

1. explain the wave nature of light (basics of wavelength, frequency,  amplitude,  spectrum IR through UV, energy/frequency relationships -- qualitative)
   explain how light can act as a particle in the photoelectric effect.
   describe the observations made in studying the double-slit experiment and photoelectric effect and their impact on atomic theory.
   explain emission and absorption spectrums, how they are created, and how they are related

2. explain the quantum concept
   describe the Bohr model of the atom.
   explain the relationship between energy levels in an atom and lines in an emission or absorption spectrum.
   explain the importance of the de Broglie hypothesis.
   state the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and relate its significance to the atomic model
   explain the key aspects of the Schrödinger model for the atom. How is is similar to and different from the Bohr model?

3. state the Aufbau Principle, Hund's Rule, and the Pauli Exclusion Principle.
   state the energy sublevels within a given energy level.
   state the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a given energy level and sublevel.
   write an electron configuration in subshell notation and orbital notation. (Note: remember to layer your orbital diagrams by energy as we did in notes and as the example on the slides, not draw them flat like the textbook does.)
   determine the element given an electron configuration.

4. read an electron configuration from the position of the element in the periodic table.

Reading

1.
5.1  Electromagnetic Spectrum
5.4  Photoelectric Effect
5.5  Atomic Emission Spectra

2.
5.6  Bohr's Atomic Model
5.7  Spectral Lines of Hydrogen
5.9  Quantum Mechanics
5.10  Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
5.11  Quantum Mechanical Atomic Model
5.12  Energy Level
5.13  Orbital

3.

5.15  Aufbau Principle

5.16  Pauli Exclusion Principle

5.17  Hund's Rule and Orbital Filling Diagrams

5.18  Electron Configurations

5.19  Valence Electrons

5.20  Noble Gas Configuration 

Lab

Homework

For more practice, pick any element. You can check the electron configurations on this page.

This page has orbital diagrams for all of the elements. They are drawn flat, not properly stacked, to save space. These include just noble gas abbreviations.

There are some elements that violate the Aufbau-predicted electron configurations. Honors will need to explain this, CP does not.

Additional Resources