1. Electronic Structure of Atoms
Resources
Our TB: Ch. 6 of Chemistry: The Central Science AP version (10th edition)
Powerpoint * (from pearson) and in-class work
POGIL activities: (1) Analysis of Spectral Lines and (2) Interaction of Radiation and Matter
Online resources for our TB (in particular online quiz)
Chem tours from ch. 7 of the W.W. Norton online book by Gilbert:
Animations from Glencoe site:
Extra quizzes from Glencoe
Video lectures from chem guy
Handouts and practice problems from M. Brophy’s web site

2. Chapter 6 Electronic Structure of Atoms
Chemistry, The Central Science, 10th edition
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; and Bruce E. Bursten
Chapter 6 Electronic Structure of Atoms
John D. Bookstaver
St. Charles Community College
St. Peters, MO
 2006, Prentice Hall, Inc.

3. Waves
To understand the electronic structure of atoms, one must understand the nature of electromagnetic radiation.
The distance between corresponding points on adjacent waves is the wavelength ().

4. Waves
The number of waves passing a given point per unit of time is the frequency ().
For waves traveling at the same velocity, the longer the wavelength, the smaller the frequency.

5. Electromagnetic Radiation
All electromagnetic radiation travels at the same velocity: the speed of light (c), 3.00  108 m/s.
Therefore,
c = 

6. The Nature of Energy
The wave nature of light does not explain how an object can glow when its temperature increases.
Max Planck explained it by assuming that energy comes in packets called quanta.

7. The Nature of Energy
Einstein used this assumption to explain the photoelectric effect.
He concluded that energy is proportional to frequency:
E = h
where h is Planck’s constant, 6.63  10−34 J-s (i.e. units for h are J•s)

8. The Nature of Energy
Therefore, if one knows the wavelength of light, one can calculate the energy in one photon, or packet, of that light:
c = 
E = h

9. For electromagnetic radiation animation and problems see:
For All Chem tours for the electrons in atoms and periodic properties topic see:
Recommeded chem tours animations:
Electromagnetic radiation
Light Emission and Absorbtion
Bohr Model of the Atom
De Broglie Wavelngth
Quantum numbers
Electron configuration

10. The Nature of Energy
Another mystery involved the emission spectra observed from energy emitted by atoms and molecules.

11. The Nature of Energy
One does not observe a continuous spectrum, as one gets from a white light source.
Only a line spectrum of discrete wavelengths is observed.

12. Go To Glencoe Animation
POGIL activity on Spectral Lines
(To Complete)

13. The Nature of Energy
Niels Bohr adopted Planck’s assumption and explained these phenomena in this way:
Electrons in an atom can only occupy certain orbits (corresponding to certain energies).

14. The Nature of Energy
Niels Bohr adopted Planck’s assumption and explained these phenomena in this way:
Electrons in permitted orbits have specific, “allowed” energies; these energies will not be radiated from the atom.

15. The Nature of Energy
Niels Bohr adopted Planck’s assumption and explained these phenomena in this way:
Energy is only absorbed or emitted in such a way as to move an electron from one “allowed” energy state to another; the energy is defined by
E = h

16. The Nature of Energy
The energy absorbed or emitted from the process of electron promotion or demotion can be calculated by the equation:
E = −RH
( ) 1
nf2
ni2 -
where RH is the Rydberg constant, 2.18  10−18 J, and ni and nf are the initial and final energy levels of the electron.

17. Go To Glencoe and Norton Animations
POGIL activity on Interaction of Radiation and Matter
(To Complete)
Go to Chem tour for Bohr Model of atom (and Rydberg equation)

18. The Wave Nature of Matter
Louis de Broglie posited that if light can have material properties, matter should exhibit wave properties.
He demonstrated that the relationship between mass and wavelength was
 = h mv

19. The Uncertainty Principle
Heisenberg showed that the more precisely the momentum of a particle is known, the less precisely is its position known:
In many cases, our uncertainty of the whereabouts of an electron is greater than the size of the atom itself!
(x) (mv)  h 4

20. Quantum Mechanics
Erwin Schrödinger developed a mathematical treatment into which both the wave and particle nature of matter could be incorporated.
It is known as quantum mechanics.

21. The Quantum Mechanical Model
Energy is quantized - It comes in chunks.
A quantum is the amount of energy needed to move from one energy level to another.
Since the energy of an atom is never “in between” there must be a quantum leap in energy.
In 1926, Erwin Schrodinger derived an equation that described the energy and position of the electrons in an atom
(this slide from: J. Hushen’s presentation on Atomic Structure at

22. Schrodinger’s Wave Equation
Equation for the probability of a single electron being found along a single axis (x-axis)
Erwin Schrodinger
(this slide from: J. Hushen’s presentation on Atomic Structure at

23. Quantum Mechanics
The wave equation is designated with a lower case Greek psi ().
The square of the wave equation, 2, gives a probability density map of where an electron has a certain statistical likelihood of being at any given instant in time.

24. Quantum Numbers
Solving the wave equation gives a set of wave functions, or orbitals, and their corresponding energies.
Each orbital describes a spatial distribution of electron density.
An orbital is described by a set of three quantum numbers.

25. Principal Quantum Number, n
The principal quantum number, n, describes the energy level on which the orbital resides.
The values of n are integers ≥ 0.

26. Azimuthal Quantum Number, l
This quantum number defines the shape of the orbital.
Allowed values of l are integers ranging from 0 to n − 1.
We use letter designations to communicate the different values of l and, therefore, the shapes and types of orbitals.

27. Azimuthal Quantum Number, l
Value of l 1 2 3
Type of orbital s p d f

28. Magnetic Quantum Number, ml
Describes the three-dimensional orientation of the orbital.
Values are integers ranging from -l to l:
−l ≤ ml ≤ l.
Therefore, on any given energy level, there can be up to 1 s orbital, 3 p orbitals, 5 d orbitals, 7 f orbitals, etc.

29. Magnetic Quantum Number, ml
Orbitals with the same value of n form a shell.
Different orbital types within a shell are subshells.

30. Allowed Sets of Quantum Numbers for Electrons in Atoms
Level n
Sublevel l
Orbital ml
Spin ms 1 -1 2 -2
= +1/2
= -1/2
Allowed Sets of Quantum Numbers for Electrons in Atoms

31. s Orbitals Value of l = 0. Spherical in shape.
Radius of sphere increases with increasing value of n.

32. s Orbitals
Observing a graph of probabilities of finding an electron versus distance from the nucleus, we see that s orbitals possess n−1 nodes, or regions where there is 0 probability of finding an electron.

33. p Orbitals
Value of l = 1.
Have two lobes with a node between them.

34. d Orbitals
Value of l is 2.
Four of the five orbitals have 4 lobes; the other resembles a p orbital with a doughnut around the center.

35. Energies of Orbitals
For a one-electron hydrogen atom, orbitals on the same energy level have the same energy.
That is, they are degenerate.

36. Energies of Orbitals
As the number of electrons increases, though, so does the repulsion between them.
Therefore, in many-electron atoms, orbitals on the same energy level are no longer degenerate.

37. Spin Quantum Number, ms
In the 1920s, it was discovered that two electrons in the same orbital do not have exactly the same energy.
The “spin” of an electron describes its magnetic field, which affects its energy.

38. Spin Quantum Number, ms
This led to a fourth quantum number, the spin quantum number, ms.
The spin quantum number has only 2 allowed values: +1/2 and −1/2.

39. Pauli Exclusion Principle
No two electrons in the same atom can have exactly the same energy.
For example, no two electrons in the same atom can have identical sets of quantum numbers.

40. IMPORTANT Go To www.ptable.com
Use periodic Table to help you write electron configurations of atoms (and ions)
Dynamic Periodic Table and Investigate (play with) the Orbitals option (on Top Tabs) for quantum numbers, orbitals and electron configurations of various elements
Go To
Glencoe site for animations on electron configuration

41. Electron Configurations
Distribution of all electrons in an atom
Consist of
Number denoting the energy level

42. Electron Configurations
Distribution of all electrons in an atom
Consist of
Number denoting the energy level
Letter denoting the type of orbital

43. Electron Configurations
Distribution of all electrons in an atom.
Consist of
Number denoting the energy level.
Letter denoting the type of orbital.
Superscript denoting the number of electrons in those orbitals.

44. Orbital Diagrams Each box represents one orbital.
Half-arrows represent the electrons.
The direction of the arrow represents the spin of the electron.

45. Hund’s Rule
“For degenerate orbitals, the lowest energy is attained when the number of electrons with the same spin is maximized.”

46. Periodic Table We fill orbitals in increasing order of energy.
Different blocks on the periodic table, then correspond to different types of orbitals.

47. Some Anomalies
Some irregularities occur when there are enough electrons to half-fill s and d orbitals on a given row.

48. Some Anomalies
For instance, the electron configuration for chromium is
[Ar] 4s1 3d5
rather than the expected
[Ar] 4s2 3d4.
N.B. Copper is another
anomaly.

49. Some Anomalies
This occurs because the 4s and 3d orbitals are very close in energy.
These anomalies occur in f-block atoms, as well.

50. MAGNETISM
magnetite--Fe3O4, natural magnetic oxide of iron
1600--William Gilbert concluded the earth is also a large spherical magnet with magnetic south at the north pole (Santa's habitat).
NEVER FORGET: opposites attract & likes repel
PARAMAGNETISM AND UNPAIRED ELECTRONS
diamagnetic--not magnetic [magnetism dies]; in fact they are slightly repelled. All electrons are PAIRED.
paramagnetic--attracted to a magnetic field; lose their magnetism when removed from the magnetic field; HAS ONE OR MORE UNPAIRED ELECTRONS
ferromagnetic--retain magnetism upon introduction to, then removal from a magnetic field
All of these are explained by electron spins
Each electron has a magnetic field with N & S poles
electron spin is quantized such that, in an external magnetic field, only two orientations of the electron magnet and its spin are possible
+/- 1/2
H is paramagnetic; He is diamagnetic, WHY?
H has one unpaired electron
He has NO unpaired electrons; all spins offset and cancel each other out
(Taken from summary notes posted on M. Brophy’s website)
ELECTRON SPIN
1920--chemists realized that since electrons interact with a magnetic field, there must be one more concept to explain the behavior of electrons in atoms.
ms--the 4th quantum number; accounts for the reaction of electrons in a magnetic field

51. What about ferromagnetic?
clusters of atoms have their unpaired electrons aligned within a cluster, clusters are more or less aligned and substance acts as a magnet. Don't drop it!!
When all of the domains, represented by these arrows are aligned, it behaves as a magnet. This is what happens if you drop it! The domains go indifferent directions and it no longer operates as a magnet.
(Taken from summary notes posted on M. Brophy’s website)

52. Activities and Problem set __
Ch 6 Problems: Include pages from e-text ; write out answers & show work
First carefully study the sample exercises in chapter 6 (you don’t have to copy them out) and then DO all in-chapter practice exercises according to the directions above..
Do all GIST, and Visualizing concepts, problems
end of chapter 6 exercises: _________
TB ch. 6 – all sections required for SAT II and AP exams and most are required for regents exam
View and take notes on the recommended animations
POGIL activities on (1) Analysis of Spectral Lines and (2) Interaction of Radiation and Matter
Online practice quiz due by ______