Quantum Numbers, Orbital Assignments & Electron Configurations

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on quantum numbers and electron configurations.

Quantum Numbers

Numbers that describe the unique quantum state of an electron in an atom.

Principal Quantum Number (n)

Indicates the energy level of the electron and is a positive integer.

Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l)

Determines the shape of the orbital and can take on integer values from 0 to n-1.

Magnetic Quantum Number (m₁)

Specifies the orientation of the orbital in space and can range from -l to +l.

Spin Quantum Number (mₛ)

Describes the spin of the electron with values of +1/2 or -1/2.

Pauli Exclusion Principle

No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.

Electron Configuration

A representation of the arrangement of electrons in an atom.

Effective Nuclear Charge (Z_eff)

The net positive charge experienced by an electron in a multi-electron atom.

Coulomb's Law

Describes the force between two charged objects, explaining electrostatic repulsion and attraction.

Penetration

Refers to how close an electron can get to the nucleus, affecting its energy level.

Orbital Diagram

A visual representation of the arrangement of electrons in orbitals.

Shielding

The phenomenon where inner electrons shield outer electrons from the full effect of the nucleus’s positive charge.

Nodes

Regions in an orbital where the probability of finding an electron is zero.

Radial Probability

The likelihood of finding an electron at a particular distance from the nucleus.