CM1111 Mass Tutorial 3

AY2016/2017 S1

Question 1:
(1) Write down the possible sets of quantum numbers to describe an electron in a 3s
atomic orbital.
Answer: n=3, l=0, m=0, ms=1/2 or n=3, l=0, m=0, ms=-1/2

(2) If an electron has the quantum numbers n=2, l=1, m=1 and ms=-1/2, which
atomic orbital is it occupying?
Answer: 2px or 2py

Question 2:
(1) What electrostatic interactions must be considered in the Schrödinger Equation of
He atom?
Answer: In He atom there are two electrons, 3 electrostatic interactions, i.e.
Attraction between electron 1 and the nucleus;
Attraction between electron 2 and the nucleus;
Repulsion between electron 1 and electron 2.

(2) Derive the equation below by referring to the table on slides 18 and 19 of lecture
note for the atomic structure part 2.

Answer: Using independent electron approximation: the wavefunction for He can be

written as (r1,r2) ≈ 1s(r1)1s(r2)
1s orbital corresponds to ψ100
1
 (r ,  ,  )  R (r )Y ( ,  ) 
10 00 a 0 3 / 2 e r / a 0

100

By replacing a0 with a0/Z

1 a0 1 a 0 3 / 2 Zr2 / a 0 Z 3 Zr1 / a 0 Zr2 / a 0
 (r1, r 2)  ( ( ) 3 / 2 e Zr1 / a 0 )( ( ) e ) (e )(e )
 Z  Z a 0 3
Due to shielding effect, replace the actual nuclear charge Z with effective nuclear
charge Zeff. The equation can be obtained.

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 CM1111 Mass Tutorial 3
AY2016/2017 S1

Question 3:
(1) State two elements that have ground state electronic configurations of the general
type [X]ns2np1. And identify the number of the valence electrons. (X is a noble
gas.)

Answer: They are the elements B (n=2) and Al (n=3) from group 13. Three valence
electrons.

Note: For Ga (n=4) and In (n=5), the configuration is [X](n-1)d10ns2np1

For Tl (n=6) [X](n-2)f14(n-1)d10ns2np1

(2) Give the electronic configurations of the following elements, and state how many
unpaired electrons there should be in the lowest energy configuration.

a. Li (Lithium, Z=3)
1s22s1or [He]2s1
1 unpaired electron.
b. C (Carbon, Z=6)
1s22s22p2 or [He]2s22p2
2 unpaired electron.
c. S (Sulfur, Z=16)
1s22s22p63s23p4 or [Ne] 3s23p4
2 unpaired electrons.
d. Sr (Strontium, Z=38)
1s22s22p63s23p43d104s24p6 5s2 or 1s22s22p63s23p44s23d104p6 5s2 or [Kr]5s2
0 unpaired electrons.
e. b (Antimony, Z=51)
1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25p3 or
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p3 or [Kr]4d105s25p3 or [Kr]5s24d105p3
3 unpaired electrons

(3) Give the ground state electron configurations of the following species

a. Ti (Z=22) and Ti3+

b. Ga (Z=31) and Ga3+
c. Ag(Z=47) and Ag+
d. Pb (Z=82) and Pb2+

Answer:

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 CM1111 Mass Tutorial 3
AY2016/2017 S1

a. Ti: Z=22: n= 4, [Ar]3d24s2 or [Ar] 4s23d2 . I accept both. But students

should know which orbital should be occupied first.
Ti3+: 19 electrons. It has dn configuration and no electron in the 4s orbital.
[Ar]3d1
b. Ga: Z=31, n=4, [Ar] 4s23d104p1 or [Ar] 3d104s24p1
Ga3+: 28 electrons, [Ar]3d10
c. Ag: Z=47, n=5, [Kr] 4d105s1 or [Kr] 5s1 4d10 anomalous configuration!
Ag+: 46 electrons, [Kr]4d10. It has dn configuration.
d. Pb: Z=82, n=6, [Xe]4f145d106s26p2 or [Xe] 6s24f145d106p2
Pb2+: 80 electrons, [Xe]4f145d106s2