ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE

OF ATOM
AGENDA
1 Atomic Model Timeline

2 Bohr Model

3 Quantum Mechanical Model

4 Duality of Electrons

5 Quantum Numbers
 ATOMIC MODEL TIMELINE

1803 1897 1911 1913 1920s

Solid Sphere Plum Pudding Nuclear Planetary Quantum

John J.J. Ernest Niels Erwin
Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr Schrödinger
Atoms are dense and Atoms are described as Atom consists of a Electrons move in Electrons do not have
solid, with no internal uniform, positively small, dense, positively quantized, discrete definite orbits, but are
structure or subatomic charged spheres with charged nucleus at the energy levels around described by wave
particles considered. electrons embedded center, with electrons the nucleus and emit or functions that
within them, similar to orbiting around it, absorb energy when represent probability
raisins in a pudding. similar to planets transitioning between distributions of their
orbiting around the levels. locations.
sun.
NIELS BOHR
1885 - 1962

Explained atomic spectra with

precision
Introduced the concept of quantized
energy levels
Bridged classical physics with
emerging quantum mechanics
NIELS BOHR
1885 - 1962

Danish physicist known for his

pioneering work in atomic structure
Proposed the Planetary Model in the
early 20th century
PLANETARY MODEL
According to this model, electrons orbit the
nucleus of an atom in specific energy levels or
shells. This theory helped explain why atoms emit
light and why they absorb certain colors of light. It
also helped explain the stability of atoms and why
they don't fall apart.

Limited to explaining the hydrogen atom

LIMITATIONS
Couldn't account for the behavior of multi-
electron atoms
Didn't incorporate the wave-like nature of
electrons
ERWIN SCHRÖDINGER
1887 - 1961

Austrian physicist renowned for his

contributions to quantum mechanics
Proposed the Quantum Model in the
1920s
ERWIN SCHRÖDINGER
1887 - 1961

Quantum mechanics provides a

comprehensive understanding of
electron behavior
Schrödinger's model successfully
explains multi-electron atoms
Quantum mechanics is the foundation
of modern atomic theory
QUANTUM MECHANICAL MODEL

According to this model, electrons exist as a probable

wave-like pattern around the nucleus, not in a specific
orbit. It explains why electrons act like particles and
waves, and is the foundation of our understanding of
atomic structure and widely used in modern physics.

Mathematical complexity of the model

LIMITATIONS
Requires advanced mathematics to calculate electron
probabilities
Doesn't provide a simple visual representation of
atomic structure
DUALITY OF ELECTRONS

Just like light, all forms of matter

and particles like electrons also
exhibits the properties of a wave.
This is called the Wave-Particle
Duality of Matter and Energy.
DUALITY OF ELECTRONS

The duality of electrons was

proposed by Louis de Broglie, which
was then proven by Clinton
Davisson and Lester Germer.
DUALITY OF ELECTRONS

The consequences of the wavelike

properties of electron is it’s
probabilistic nature.
DUALITY OF ELECTRONS

Werner Heisenberg’s uncertainty

principle states that it is impossible
to precisely describe both the
location and the speed of particles
that exhibit wavelike behavior.
DUALITY OF ELECTRONS

The wave-particle duality of

electrons is important in the study
of quantum mechanics.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Quantum numbers can be used to

describe the trajectory and the
movement of an electron in an
atom.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Four quantum numbers:

1. Principal
2. Angular Momentum
3. Magnetic
4. Spin
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Principal Quantum
Number (n)
this number describes
the energy level of the
electron in an atom
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Angular Momentum Quantum Number (ℓ)

this number describes the shape of the
sublevel within an energy level.

ℓ = 0, 1, 2,…, n-1
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Angular Momentum Quantum Number (ℓ)

Example: if n = 1
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Angular Momentum Quantum Number (ℓ)

Example: if n = 2
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Angular Momentum Quantum Number (ℓ)

Example: if n = 3
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Angular Momentum Quantum Number (ℓ)

Example: if n = 4
QUANTUM NUMBERS

ℓ = 0 represents the
s-sublevel
QUANTUM NUMBERS

ℓ = 1 represents the
p-sublevel
QUANTUM NUMBERS

ℓ = 2 represents the
d-sublevel
QUANTUM NUMBERS

ℓ = 3 represents the f-sublevel

QUANTUM NUMBERS
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Magnetic Quantum Number (mℓ)

this number describes the number of
orbitals and their orientation within a
sublevel

-ℓ ≥ mℓ ≤ +ℓ
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Magnetic Quantum Number (mℓ)

Example: n = 1
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Magnetic Quantum Number (mℓ)

Example: n = 2
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Magnetic Quantum Number (mℓ)

Example: n = 3
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Magnetic Quantum Number (mℓ)

Example: n = 4
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Spin Quantum Number (mₛ)

Describes the intrinsic property of an
electron when exposed to nonuniform
magnetic field. An electron can only have to
possible values for spin: +1/2 (spin-up, ↑)
and -1/2 (spin-down, ↓).
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Spin Quantum Number (mₛ)

Electrons do not actually “spin”, it just have
the charateristics of a spinning particle.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Spin Quantum Number (mₛ)

The spin of an electron can be used to
identify its magnetic properties.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Example: Find the n, ℓ, mℓ, and mₛ of

electron 3d¹⁰.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Example: Find the n, ℓ, mℓ, and mₛ of

electron 4p².
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Example: Find the n, ℓ, mℓ, and mₛ of

electron 2s³.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Example: Find the n, ℓ, mℓ, and mₛ of

electron 4d⁵.
QUANTUM NUMBERS

Example: Find the n, ℓ, mℓ, and mₛ of

electron 5f¹².
LET’S RECALL!
LET’S RECALL!

What describes the trajectory and

movement of an electron?
LET’S RECALL!

What describes the trajectory and

movement of an electron?

Quantum numbers
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum numbers describes the

energy level of electrons in an atom?
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum numbers describes the

energy level of electrons in an atom?

Principal quantum
number (n)
LET’S RECALL!

What is the principal quantum number of

4s²?
LET’S RECALL!

What is the principal quantum number of

4s²?

4
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum number describes the

shape of the sublevel within an energy
level?
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum number describes the

shape of the sublevel within an energy
level?

Angular momentum
quantum number (ℓ)
LET’S RECALL!

What is the angular momentum quantum

number of 5p⁶?
LET’S RECALL!

What is the angular momentum quantum

number of 5p⁶?

1
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum number describes the

number of orbitals and their orientation
within a sublevel?
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum number describes the

number of orbitals and their orientation
within a sublevel?

Magnetic quantum
number (mℓ)
LET’S RECALL!

What is the magnetic quantum number of

4f⁹?
LET’S RECALL!

What is the magnetic quantum number of

4f⁹?

-3 to +3
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum number describes the

properties of electrons when exposed to a
nonuniform magnetic field?
LET’S RECALL!

What quantum number describes the

properties of electrons when exposed to a
nonuniform magnetic field?

Spin quantum
number (ms)
LET’S RECALL!

True or false: electrons spin.

LET’S RECALL!

True or false: electrons spin.

False
LET’S RECALL!

What is the spin quantum number of 3p⁴

LET’S RECALL!

What is the spin quantum number of 3p⁴

-1/2
LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 2d³ possible?

LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 2d³ possible?

LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 2d³ possible?

No, because for n=2 the only possible of

ℓ are 0 and 1 which are represented by s
and p respectively
LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 3f¹⁰ possible?

LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 3f¹⁰ possible?

No, because for n=3 the only possible of

ℓ are 0, 1, and 2 which are represented
by s, p, and f respectively
LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 4p⁷ possible?

LET’S RECALL!

Is electron 4p⁷ possible?

No, because for p-sublevel can only hold

6 electrons.
LET’S RECALL!

Which of the following electrons is/are not

possible: 4s³, 4p⁵, 3d⁴, 3f¹⁴
LET’S RECALL!

Which of the following electrons is/are not

possible: 4s³, 4p⁵, 3d⁴, 3f¹⁴

4s³ and 3f¹⁴

 IDENTIFYING THE
ELECTRONIC
CONFIGURATION OF
ELEMENTS
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION

When identifying the electronic configuration

of an element: we will assume that the element
is in a NEUTRAL state. It means that the
number of electrons will equal to the number
of protons (atomin number).
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION

Aufbau Principle:
According to this principle, electrons are filled
in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d,
4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p,…
The order in which atomic subshells are filled
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Pauli Exclusion Principle:
Electrons come in two varieties based on the
direction they are 'spinning'. There is an Up
spin and a Down spin. Up and Down spins are
always paired together and Up- Up, or Down-
Down combinations are not allowed. No two
electrons can ever be in the same place at the
same time.
QUANTUM NUMBERS
Hund’s Rule:
The electrons must be placed into the orbitals
in such a way that no pairs are put together
unless necessary. That is, single electrons must
be placed into boxes first and then paired up if
necessary.