L5 - Electronic Config

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms from the lecture notes on electron configuration and atomic structure.

Valence Electrons

Electrons on the outermost edges of atoms that drive chemical reactivity.

Bohr's Model

An early atomic model proposing electrons orbit the nucleus in concentric rings with specific occupancies (2, 8, 18, 36…). This works for small elements but isn't universally true.

Electron Configuration

How electrons are arranged around and within an atom, influencing energy and accessibility.

Orbitals

Another term for subshells where electrons are likely to be found; regions of space around the nucleus with a high probability of containing an electron.

S, P, D, F

Labels for subshells, each holding a certain number of electrons.

De Broglie's Equation

Relates an electron's wavelength to its momentum, reinforcing the concept that electrons have specific, quantized energies.

Amplitude

The distance from the zero line to the peak of a wave, indicating the 'height' of the wave.

Wave Functions

Mathematical functions that describe the probability of finding an electron in a specific region of space; orbitals are derived from these.

Spatial Distribution of an Electron

Shapes determined by wave functions, providing a probabilistic representation of where an electron is likely to be found.

Ground State

The lowest possible energy state of an atom, where all electrons occupy the lowest available energy levels.

Excited State

A state where an electron has absorbed energy and jumped to a higher energy level.

Relaxation/Emission

The process where an excited electron returns to a lower energy level, emitting energy in the form of light.