Chapter 5

Electrons in Atoms

Modern Models of the

Atom
Rutherfords model had a problem
It could not explain the chemical properties
of atoms

 Niels Bohr (Danish 1885-1962)

e- are in specific orbits
around the nucleus
Each orbit contains a fixed
amount of energy

Energy Levels
Like rungs on a ladder
Lowest rung = lowest energy level
Quantum =
the amount of
energy needed
to move an efrom one
energy level to
the next

Drawing Bohr Diagrams

Rules:

2e- can occupy the 1st energy level

8e- can occupy all others
In all energy levels, e- are 1st placed
2 @ a time starting at 12 oclock
All other e- are placed 1 @ a time at 3,
6 and 9 oclock
Practice drawing Bohr diagrams

 Erwin Schrdinger
(Austrian 1887-1961)
e- are not found in specific
orbitals
e- are in a cloud

 Quantum (wave) Mechanical Model

Determines an e-s energy
Predicts the probability of finding an e - at
various locations around the nucleus
Atomic orbital =
the region of space
where there is a high
probability of finding
an e-

Quantum Energy Levels

Principal quantum number (n)
the energy level where the e- is found
n = 1, 2, 3, 4
Energy sublevel
correspond to orbitals of different
shapes
describe where e- may be found
Letter symbols: s, p, f, d

S Orbital
e- are found in
spherical shapes
No sharp edges

P Orbitals

Dumbbell shaped
3 different shapes

D Orbitals
shapes

5 different

F Orbitals

7 different shapes

Summary
Energy
Level
1
2
3
4

Number of
Sublevels
1
2
3
4

Types of
Sublevels
s
s,p
s,p,d
s,p,d,f

*Principal energy level # = # of sublevels

Energy Sublevels
#
Total
Total
Level
Orbitals Orbitals Electrons
1
2
3

Energy Sublevels
#
Total
Total
Level
Orbitals Orbitals Electrons
1
2
3

s
s
p
s
p
d
s
p
d
f

1
1
3
1
3
5
1
3
5
7

1
4

2
8

18

16

32

Practice Problems
Write the electron configuration for each
atom:
Carbon - 1s22s22p2
Argon - 1s22s22p63s23p6
Boron - 1s22s22p1
Silicon - 1s22s22p63s23p2

Periodic Table
Arrangement
Examine your Periodic Table to see how
the electron configurations are written:
Formula: 1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th-6th
Short hand notation lists the number of e in the each quantum energy level.
It does not list the sublevel orbital.
These are the ground state (unexcited)
electron configurations.

Practice Using the Periodic

Table Configuration
Use the Periodic Table to write the
ground state electron configuration for
the following elements:
Carbon - 2-4
Argon - 2-8-8
Boron - 2-3
Silicon - 2-8-4

Excited State Electrons

e- are further away
from the nucleus
e- are at higher energy
levels
e- are less stable
e- have absorbed
energy

e-

Excited state

Ground state

Sample Problems
Which is the electron configuration of an
atom in the excited state?
a. 1s22s22p2
b. 1s22s22p1
c. 1s22s22p53s2
d. 1s22s22p63s1

An atom in the excited state can have an

electron configuration of?
a. 1s22s2
b. 1s22p1
c. 1s22s22p5
d. 1s22s22p6
Which electron configuration represents a
potassium atom in the excited state?
a. 1s22s22p63s23p3
b. 1s22s22p63s13p4
c. 1s22s22p63s23p64s1
d. 1s22s22p63s23p54s2

How C o l o r Tells
Us About Atoms
Physics and the Quantum
Mechanical Model

Prism
White light is made
up of all the colors of
the visible spectrum.
Passing it through a
prism separates it.

 By heating an element
we can get it to give off
colors.
Passing it through a
prism does something
different.

Atomic Line Spectra

Each element gives off
its own characteristic
color
Called Line Spectra
The energy emitted is
given off as photons of
light.

Line-Emission Spectrum

excited state

ENERGY IN

PHOTON OUT

ground state

Electron Energy Levels

3rd energy level

2nd energy level

Energy
absorbed

1st energy level

Energy
lost

nucleus

1999, Addison, Wesley, Longman, Inc.

2
1
nucleus

As e- fall from
higher orbitals energy
is given off.
Amount of energy
given off = to the
distance of the fall

 Atomic Fingerprints
Each element has a unique
atomic line emission spectrum.
Used to identify the element

Continuous and Line Spectra

Visible
Light
Spectrum
Na
H
Ca
Hg
o

4000 A

5000

6000

7000

Flame Emission Spectra

Photographs of flame tests of burning wooden splints soaked in different salts.

methane gas

wooden splint

sodium ion

calcium ion

copper ion

strontium ion

Neon Signs

Firework
s