Quantum Theory and the Electronic Structure of Atoms

Flashcards to review key terms and concepts from Quantum Theory and the Electronic Structure of Atoms.

What is electromagnetic radiation?

Emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves.

Who proposed the wave nature of visible light in 1873?

James Clerk Maxwell proposed that visible light consists of electromagnetic waves.

What are the four characteristics of waves?

Wave speed (c), height (amplitude), wavelength (λ), and frequency (ν).

What does the wavelength (λ) measure?

The distance covered by the wave, typically from one crest to the next.

What is the value of Planck's constant (h)?

6.63 × 10^-34 J.s.

What is the relationship between frequency and energy according to Einstein's photoelectric effect?

Energy is proportional to frequency (E = hν).

What is a photon?

A particle of light energy.

Define the photoelectric effect.

The phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a metal when exposed to light at a certain frequency.

What is the continuous spectrum?

The range of colors produced when white light is passed through a prism.

What did Niels Bohr contribute to atomic theory?

He developed a model of the atom explaining quantized energy levels and electron orbits.

What are quantum numbers?

Four numbers that describe the attributes of electrons in atoms: principal quantum number (n), angular momentum quantum number (L), magnetic quantum number (mL), and spin quantum number (ms).

What does the Pauli Exclusion Principle state?

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

What is Hund's rule?

Electrons should occupy degenerate orbitals singly before pairing up.

How is the electron configuration of an atom represented?

By indicating how electrons are distributed among various atomic orbitals.

What anomaly occurs in the electron configuration of chromium?

The configuration appears as [Ar] 4s1 3d5 instead of the expected [Ar] 4s2 3d4.

What determines the filling order of orbitals in an atom?

Electrons fill orbitals in order of increasing energy according to the Aufbau principle.

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

For waves traveling at the same velocity, longer wavelengths correspond to smaller frequencies.

What do the values of the principal quantum number (n) indicate?

The energy level occupied by the electrons; higher n values denote higher energy.

Which orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons?

Each orbital may have a maximum of 2 electrons, in accordance with the Pauli Exclusion Principle.

How can noble gas electron configurations simplify electron configuration notation?

By using the preceding noble gas symbol to represent inner electrons.

What characteristic of light is determined by its frequency?

The color of light is determined by its wavelength or frequency.