The Electronic Structure of

Atoms

1
 Properties of Waves

Wavelength (l) is the distance between identical points on

successive waves.
Amplitude is the vertical distance from the midline of a
wave to the peak or trough.
Frequency (n) is the number of waves that pass through a
particular point in 1 second (Hz = 1 cycle/s).
The speed (u) of the wave = l x n 2
Maxwell (1873), proposed that visible light consists of
electromagnetic waves.

Electromagnetic
radiation is the emission
and transmission of energy
in the form of
electromagnetic waves.

Speed of light (c) in vacuum = 3.00 x 108 m/s

All electromagnetic radiation

lxn = c 3
Example 7.1

The wavelength of the green light from a traffic signal is

centered at 522 nm. What is the frequency of this radiation?
Example 7.1
Strategy We are given the wavelength of an electromagnetic
wave and asked to calculate its frequency.

Rearranging Equation (7.1) and replacing u with c (the speed of

light) gives

Solution Because the speed of light is given in meters per

second, it is convenient to first convert wavelength to meters.
Recall that 1 nm = 1 × 10−9 m (see Table 1.3). We
write
Example 7.1
Substituting in the wavelength and the speed of light
(3.00 × 108 m/s), the frequency is

Check The answer shows that 5.75 × 1014 waves pass a fixed
point every second. This very high frequency is in accordance
with the very high speed of light.
7
Mystery #1, “Heated Solids Problem”
Solved by Planck in 1900
When solids are heated, they emit electromagnetic radiation
over a wide range of wavelengths.

Radiant energy emitted by an object at a certain temperature

depends on its wavelength.

Energy (light) is emitted or

absorbed in discrete units
(quantum).

E=hxn
Planck’s constant (h)
h = 6.63 x 10-34 J•s 8
Mystery #2, “Photoelectric Effect”
hn
Solved by Einstein in 1905

Light has both:

KE e-
1. wave nature
2. particle nature
Photon is a “particle” of light

hn = KE + W
KE = hn - W

where W is the work function and

depends how strongly electrons
are held in the metal 9
Example 7.2

Calculate the energy (in joules) of

(a) a photon with a wavelength of 5.00 × 104 nm

(infrared region)

(b) a photon with a wavelength of 5.00 × 10−2 nm (X ray region)

Example 7.2
Strategy
In both (a) and (b) we are given the wavelength of a photon and
asked to calculate its energy.

We need to use Equation (7.3) to calculate the energy.

Planck’s constant is given in the text and also on the back

inside cover.
Example 7.2
Solution
(a) From Equation (7.3),

This is the energy of a single photon with a 5.00 × 104 nm

wavelength.
Example 7.2
(b) Following the same procedure as in (a), we can show
that the energy of the photon that has a wavelength of
5.00 × 10−2 nm is 3.98 × 10−15 J .

Check Because the energy of a photon increases with

decreasing wavelength, we see that an “X ray” photon is
1 × 106, or a million times more energetic than an “infrared”
photon.
Example 7.3
The work function of cesium metal is 3.42 × 10−19 J.

(a) Calculate the minimum frequency of light required to release

electrons from the metal.

(b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the ejected electron if light of

frequency 1.00 × 1015 s−1 is used for irradiating the metal.
Example 7.3
Strategy
(a) The relationship between the work function of an element
and the frequency of light is given by Equation (7.4).

The minimum frequency of light needed to dislodge an

electron is the point where the kinetic energy of the ejected
electron is zero.

(b) Knowing both the work function and the frequency of light,
we can solve for the kinetic energy of the ejected electron.
Example 7.3
Solution
(a) Setting KE = 0 in Equation (7.4), we write

h = W

Thus,

Check The kinetic energy of the ejected electron (3.21×10−19 J)

is smaller than the energy of the photon (6.63×10−19 J).
Therefore, the answer is reasonable.
Line Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen Atoms

17
18
 Bohr’s Model of
the Atom (1913)
1. e- can only have specific
(quantized) energy
values
2. light is emitted as e-
moves from one energy
level to a lower energy
level
1
En = -RH ( )
n2

n (principal quantum number) = 1,2,3,…

RH (Rydberg constant) = 2.18 x 10-18J
19
 E = hn

E = hn

20
 Ephoton = DE = Ef - Ei
ni = 3 ni = 3 1
Ef = -RH ( 2 )
nf
ni = 2 1
Ei = -RH ( 2 )
nf = 2 ni
1 1
DE = RH( 2 )
ni n2f

nnf f==11
21
22
Example 7.4

What is the wavelength of a photon (in nanometers) emitted

during a transition from the ni = 5 state to the nf = 2 state in the
hydrogen atom?
Example 7.4
Strategy
We are given the initial and final states in the emission process.

We can calculate the energy of the emitted photon using

Equation (7.6).

Then from Equations (7.2) and (7.1) we can solve for the
wavelength of the photon.

The value of Rydberg’s constant is given in the text.

Example 7.4
Solution From Equation (7.6) we write

The negative sign indicates that this is energy associated with

an emission process. To calculate the wavelength, we will omit
the minus sign for E because the wavelength of the photon
must be positive.
Example 7.4
Because E = h or  = E/h, we can calculate the wavelength
of the photon by writing
Example 7.4
Check
The wavelength is in the visible region of the electromagnetic
region (see Figure 7.3).

This is consistent with the fact that because nf = 2, this

transition gives rise to a spectral line in the Balmer series (see
Table 7.1).
Why is e- energy quantized?

De Broglie (1924) reasoned

that e- is both particle and
wave.
h
2pr = nl l = mu

u = velocity of e-

m = mass of e-
28
Example 7.5
 
Example 7.5

Strategy
We are given the mass and the speed of the particle in
(a) and (b) and asked to calculate the wavelength so we
need Equation (7.8).

Note that because the units of Planck’s constants are J · s,

m and u must be in kg and m/s (1 J = 1 kg m2/s2), respectively.
Example 7.5
Solution
(a) Using Equation (7.8) we write

Comment This is an exceedingly small wavelength

considering that the size of an atom itself is on the order of
1 × 10−10 m. For this reason, no existing measuring device can
detect the wave properties of a tennis ball.
Example 7.5
(b) In this case,

Comment This wavelength (1.1 × 10−5 m or 1.1 × 104 nm) is in

the infrared region. This calculation shows that only electrons
(and other submicroscopic particles) have measurable
wavelengths.
 Schrodinger Wave Equation
In 1926 Schrodinger wrote an equation that
described both the particle and wave nature of the e -
Wave function (y) describes:
1 . energy of e- with a given y
2 . probability of finding e- in a volume of space
Schrodinger’s equation can only be solved exactly
for the hydrogen atom. Must approximate its
solution for multi-electron systems.

33
 Schrodinger Wave Equation
y is a function of four numbers called
quantum numbers (n, l, ml, ms)

principal quantum number n

n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ….

distance of e- from the nucleus

n=1 n=2 n=3

34
 Schrodinger Wave Equation
quantum numbers: (n, l, ml, ms)

angular momentum quantum number l

for a given value of n, l = 0, 1, 2, 3, … n-1

l=0 s orbital
n = 1, l = 0
l=1 p orbital
n = 2, l = 0 or 1
l=2 d orbital
n = 3, l = 0, 1, or 2
l=3 f orbital
Shape of the “volume” of space that the e- occupies
35
Schrodinger Wave Equation
quantum numbers: (n, l, ml, ms)

magnetic quantum number ml

for a given value of l

ml = -l, …., 0, …. +l

if l = 1 (p orbital), ml = -1, 0, or 1
if l = 2 (d orbital), ml = -2, -1, 0, 1, or 2

orientation of the orbital in space

36
 Schrodinger Wave Equation

(n, l, ml, ms)

spin quantum number ms
ms = +½ or -½

ms = +½ ms = -½

37
38
Where 90% of the
e- density is found
for the 1s orbital

39
l = 0 (s orbitals)

l = 1 (p orbitals)

40
l = 2 (d orbitals)

41
Example 7.6

List the values of n, ℓ, and mℓ for orbitals in the 4d subshell.

Example 7.6
Strategy What are the relationships among n, ℓ, and mℓ?
What do “4” and “d” represent in 4d?

Solution As we saw earlier, the number given in the

designation of the subshell is the principal quantum number, so
in this case n = 4. The letter designates the type of orbital.
Because we are dealing with d orbitals, ℓ = 2. The values of mℓ
can vary from −ℓ to ℓ. Therefore, mℓ can be −2, −1, 0, 1, or 2.

Check The values of n and ℓ are fixed for 4d, but mℓ can have
any one of the five values, which correspond to the five d
orbitals.
ml = -1, 0, or 1 3 orientations is space

44
ml = -2, -1, 0, 1, or 2 5 orientations is space

45
Example 7.7

What is the total number of orbitals associated with the principal

quantum number n = 3?
Example 7.7
Strategy To calculate the total number of orbitals for a given n
value, we need to first write the possible values of ℓ. We then
determine how many mℓ values are associated with each value
of ℓ. The total number of orbitals is equal to the sum of all the
mℓ values.

Solution For n = 3, the possible values of ℓ are 0, 1, and 2.

Thus, there is one 3s orbital (n = 3, ℓ = 0, and mℓ = 0); there are
three 3p orbitals (n = 3, ℓ = 1, and mℓ = −1, 0, 1); there are five
3d orbitals (n = 3, ℓ = 2, and mℓ = −2, −1, 0, 1, 2). The total
number of orbitals is 1 + 3 + 5 = 9.

Check The total number of orbitals for a given value of n is n2.

So here we have 32 = 9. Can you prove the validity of this
relationship?
 Schrodinger Wave Equation
quantum numbers: (n, l, ml, ms)
Existence (and energy) of electron in atom is described
by its unique wave function y.
Pauli exclusion principle - no two electrons in an atom
can have the same four quantum numbers.

Each seat is uniquely identified (E, R12, S8).

Each seat can hold only one individual at a
time.

48
 Schrodinger Wave Equation
quantum numbers: (n, l, ml, ms)

Shell – electrons with the same value of n

Subshell – electrons with the same values of n and l

Orbital – electrons with the same values of n, l, and ml

49
 Energy of orbitals in a single electron atom
Energy only depends on principal quantum number n

n=3

n=2

1
En = -RH ( )
n2

n=1

50
Energy of orbitals in a multi-electron atom
Energy depends on n and l

n=3 l = 2

n=3 l = 1
n=3 l = 0

n=2 l = 1
n=2 l = 0

n=1 l = 0
51
“Fill up” electrons in lowest energy orbitals (Aufbau principle)

52
The most stable arrangement of electrons in
subshells is the one with the greatest number of
parallel spins (Hund’s rule).

53
 Order of orbitals (filling) in multi-electron atom

1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s < 3d < 4p < 5s < 4d < 5p < 6s
54
Example 7.8

Write the four quantum numbers for an electron in a 3p orbital.

Example 7.8
Strategy
What do the “3” and “p” designate in 3p?

How many orbitals (values of mℓ) are there in a 3p subshell?

What are the possible values of electron spin quantum number?

Solution To start with, we know that the principal quantum

number n is 3 and the angular momentum quantum number ℓ
must be 1 (because we are dealing with a p orbital). For ℓ = 1,
there are three values of mℓ given by −1, 0, and 1. Because the
electron spin quantum number ms can be either +½ or −½, we
conclude that there are six possible ways to designate the
electron using the (n, ℓ , mℓ, ms) notation.
Example 7.8
These are:

Check In these six designations we see that the values of n

and ℓ are constant, but the values of mℓ and ms can vary.
Electron configuration is how the electrons are
distributed among the various atomic orbitals in an
atom.
number of electrons
in the orbital or subshell
1s1
principal quantum angular momentum
number n quantum number l

Orbital diagram

H
1s1
58
 Paramagnetic Diamagnetic
unpaired electrons all electrons paired

2p 2p 59
Example 7.9

What is the maximum number of electrons that can be present

in the principal level for which n = 3?
Example 7.9
Strategy We are given the principal quantum number (n) so
we can determine all the possible values of the angular
momentum quantum number (ℓ). The preceding rule shows
that the number of orbitals for each value of ℓ is (2 ℓ + 1). Thus,
we can determine the total number of orbitals. How many
electrons can each orbital accommodate?

Solution When n = 3, ℓ = 0, 1, and 2. The number of orbitals

for each value of ℓ is given by
Example 7.9

The total number of orbitals is nine. Because each orbital can

accommodate two electrons, the maximum number of electrons
that can reside in the orbitals is 2 × 9, or 18.

Check If we use the formula (n2) in Example 7.7, we find that

the total number of orbitals is 32 and the total number of
electrons is 2(32) or 18. In general, the number of
electrons in a given principal energy level n is 2n2.
Example 7.10

An oxygen atom has a total of eight electrons. Write the four

quantum numbers for each of the eight electrons in the ground
state.
Example 7.10
Strategy
We start with n = 1 and proceed to fill orbitals in the order
shown in Figure 7.21.

For each value of n we determine the possible values of ℓ.

For each value of ℓ, we assign the possible values of mℓ.

We can place electrons in the orbitals according to the Pauli

exclusion principle and Hund’s rule.
Example 7.10
Solution
We start with n = 1, so ℓ = 0, a subshell corresponding to the 1s
orbital. This orbital can accommodate a total of two electrons.
Next, n = 2, and / may be either 0 or 1. The ℓ = 0 subshell
contains one 2s orbital, which can accommodate two electrons.
The remaining four electrons are placed in the ℓ = 1 subshell,
which contains three 2p orbitals. The orbital diagram is
Example 7.10
The results are summarized in the following table:

Of course, the placement of the eighth electron in the orbital

labeled mℓ = 1 is completely arbitrary. It would be equally
correct to assign it to mℓ = 0 or mℓ = −1.
67
Outermost subshell being filled with electrons

68
Example 7.11
Write the ground-state electron configurations for

(a) sulfur (S)

(b) palladium (Pd), which is diamagnetic.

Example 7.11
(a) Strategy How many electrons are in the S (Z = 16) atom?
We start with n = 1 and proceed to fill orbitals in the order
shown in Figure 7.21. For each value of ℓ, we assign the
possible values of mℓ. We can place electrons in the orbitals
according to the Pauli exclusion principle and Hund’s rule
and then write the electron configuration. The task is
simplified if we use the noble-gas core preceding S for the
inner electrons.

Solution Sulfur has 16 electrons. The noble gas core in

this case is [Ne]. (Ne is the noble gas in the period
preceding sulfur.) [Ne] represents 1s22s22p6. This leaves us
6 electrons to fill the 3s subshell and partially fill the 3p
subshell. Thus, the electron configuration of S is
1s22s22p63s23p4 or [Ne]3s23p4 .
Example 7.11
(b) Strategy We use the same approach as that in (a). What
does it mean to say that Pd is a diamagnetic element?

Solution Palladium has 46 electrons. The noble-gas core in

this case is [Kr]. (Kr is the noble gas in the period preceding
palladium.) [Kr] represents

1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p6

The remaining 10 electrons are distributed among the 4d

and 5s orbitals. The three choices are (1) 4d10, (2) 4d95s1,
and (3) 4d85s2.
Example 7.11
Because palladium is diamagnetic, all the electrons are paired
and its electron configuration must be

1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p64d10

or simply [Kr]4d10 . The configurations in (2) and (3) both

represent paramagnetic elements.

Check To confirm the answer, write the orbital diagrams for (1),
(2), and (3).