Order of orbitals (filling) in multi-electron atom 1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s < 3d < 4p < 5s < 4d < 5p < 6s Aufbau Principle: an electron occupies the lowest-energy orbital that can receive it.

Outermost subshell being filled with electrons

Why are d and f orbitals always in lower energy levels? d and f orbitals require LARGE amounts of energy It’s better (lower in energy) to skip a sublevel that requires a large amount of energy (d and f orbtials) for one in a higher level but lower energy This is the reason for the diagonal rule! BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE ARROWS IN ORDER!

Electron configuration is how the electrons are distributed among the various atomic orbitals in an atom. 1s 1 principal quantum number n angular momentum quantum number l number of electrons in the orbital or subshell Orbital diagram H 1s 1

Shorthand Notation Step 1: Find the closest noble gas to the atom (or ion), WITHOUT GOING OVER the number of electrons in the atom (or ion). Write the noble gas in brackets [ ]. Step 2: Find where to resume by finding the next energy level. Step 3: Resume the configuration until it’s finished.

What is the electron configuration of Mg? Mg 12 electrons 1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s = 12 electrons Abbreviated as [Ne]3s 2 [Ne] 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 What are the possible quantum numbers for the last (outermost) electron in Cl? Cl 17 electrons1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p = 17 electrons Last electron added to 3p orbital n = 3l = 1m l = -1, 0, or +1m s = ½ or -½

C 6 electrons Hund’s Rule: the lowest energy configuration for an atom is the one having the maximum number of unpaired electrons allowed by the Pauli exclusion principle. C 1s 2 2s 2 2p 2 N 7 electrons N 1s 2 2s 2 2p 3 O 8 electrons O 1s 2 2s 2 2p 4 F 9 electrons F 1s 2 2s 2 2p 5 Ne 10 electrons Ne 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6

Exceptions to the Aufbau Principle Remember d and f orbitals require LARGE amounts of energy If we can’t fill these sublevels, then the next best thing is to be HALF full (one electron in each orbital in the sublevel) There are many exceptions, but the most common ones are d 4 and d 9 For the purposes of this class, we are going to assume that ALL atoms (or ions) that end in d 4 or d 9 are exceptions to the rule. This may or may not be true, it just depends on the atom.

Exceptions to the Aufbau Principle d 4 is one electron short of being HALF full In order to become more stable (require less energy), one of the closest s electrons will actually go into the d, making it d 5 instead of d 4. For example: Cr would be [Ar] 4s 2 3d 4, but since this ends exactly with a d 4 it is an exception to the rule. Thus, Cr should be [Ar] 4s 1 3d 5. Procedure: Find the closest s orbital. Steal one electron from it, and add it to the d.

Keep an Eye On Those Ions! Tin Atom: [Kr] 5s 2 4d 10 5p 2 Sn +4 ion: [Kr] 4d 10 Sn +2 ion: [Kr] 5s 2 4d 10 Note that the electrons came out of the highest energy level, not the highest energy orbital!