Untitled Flashcard Set

Aufbau Principle

Each electron occupies the lowest energy orbital available.

What do electrons do according to the Aufbau Principle?

Electrons occupy the lowest energy orbital.

Pauli Exclusion Principle

A maximum of two electrons may occupy a single orbital, but only if they have opposite spins.

What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a single orbital according to the Pauli Exclusion Principle?

Two electrons, with opposite spins.

What are the two types of spins that electrons can have?

Spin up and spin down.

Hund's Rule

Single electrons with the same spin must occupy each equal-energy orbital before additional electrons with opposite spins can occupy the same orbitals.

Why are electrons considered 'UNFRIENDLY'?

Because they prefer to occupy orbitals singly with the same spin before pairing up.

Example of electron configuration for Nitrogen

$1s^2 2s^2 2p^3$.

What can be inferred about the three 2p orbitals?

They are of equal energy.