Electron Configuration and Effective Nuclear Charge

These flashcards cover key concepts from electron configurations, effective nuclear charge, and their implications in atomic structure and periodic trends.

What is the electron configuration for a neutral hydrogen atom?

The electron configuration for neutral hydrogen is 1s1.

How do we determine the number of electrons in a neutral atom?

The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to its atomic number.

What is Pauli's exclusion principle?

Pauli's exclusion principle states that no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers, meaning electrons in the same orbital must have opposite spins.

What does Hund's rule state about filling degenerate orbitals?

Hund's rule states that when filling degenerate orbitals, one electron enters each orbital singly with parallel spins before any orbital gets a second electron.

What is the configuration for a carbon atom?

The electron configuration for carbon is 1s2 2s2 2p2.

What are unpaired electrons?

Unpaired electrons are electrons that are alone in an orbital and can contribute to magnetic properties.

What is a paramagnetic atom?

A paramagnetic atom has unpaired electrons and will exhibit magnetism in an external magnetic field.

Define effective nuclear charge (Z_eff).

Effective nuclear charge (Z_eff) is the net charge an electron experiences after accounting for shielding by other electrons.

How does atomic radius change across a period in the periodic table?

Atomic radius generally decreases across a period from left to right due to increased effective nuclear charge.

What happens to the stability of valence electrons as you move further from the nucleus?

As you move further from the nucleus, the stability of valence electrons decreases.