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Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms
Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Non è quello che usi tu?Cambia libro di testo
Capitolo 6, Problema 11a

Four possible electron configurations for a carbon atom are shown below, but only one schematic represents the correct configuration for a carbon atom in its ground state. Which one is the correct electron configuration?
Four electron configurations for a carbon atom, only one is correct for its ground state.

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Step 1: Recall the electron configuration for a carbon atom in its ground state. Carbon has an atomic number of 6, which means it has 6 electrons.
Step 2: Write the electron configuration for carbon: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2.
Step 3: Apply the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons fill orbitals starting with the lowest energy level first. Thus, the 1s orbital is filled first, followed by the 2s orbital, and then the 2p orbitals.
Step 4: Apply Hund's rule, which states that electrons will fill degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly before pairing up. Therefore, the two electrons in the 2p orbitals will occupy separate orbitals.
Step 5: Compare the given electron configurations with the correct configuration based on the principles above. Identify the configuration that matches 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2 with the 2p electrons in separate orbitals.

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Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. For carbon, which has six electrons, the correct ground state configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p². This notation indicates that there are two electrons in the 1s orbital, two in the 2s orbital, and two in the 2p orbitals, following the Aufbau principle.
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Electron Configuration Example

Pauli Exclusion Principle

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers. This means that each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins. Understanding this principle is crucial for determining the correct electron configuration, as it dictates how electrons fill the available orbitals.
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Uncertainty Principle Formula

Hund's Rule

Hund's Rule states that electrons will occupy degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly and with parallel spins before pairing up. This rule helps minimize electron-electron repulsion and is essential for predicting the correct arrangement of electrons in the 2p orbitals of carbon, where two electrons will occupy separate p orbitals before pairing.
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Solubility Rules