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General Chemistry 2
Grade12

1​st​ Quarter - Week One

Quantum Theory, Quantum Numbers, and Electronic
Configuration
OBJECTIVES: ​This lesson delves into some concepts of quantum theory, quantum
numbers and electronic configuration. The students should be able to:
1. Understand some concepts of Quantum Theory—Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle
and Schrodinger equation
2. Describe electronic structure of atoms in terms of energy levels, sublevels, and
orbitals and use quantum numbers to describe an electron in an atom
3. Explain the unique electron distribution of the atom and determine the electronic
configuration of atoms
I. INTRODUCTION:
Einstein and other scientists believe that particles like electron and photon (light
particles) have a dual nature: wave-like and particle-like which we call ​wave-particle
duality​. So, scientists then tried to locate the precise position of a wave or particle in space.
The scientist Werner Heisenberg ​formulated the ​Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
which states that the “the position of a particle and its momentum cannot be measured with
arbitrarily high precision” to say that it is not possible to pinpoint the exact location of the
electron in an atom.
In 1926, Erwin Schrodinger formulated the ​Schrodinger equation to describe
the behavior and energies of submicroscopic particles like electrons. It incorporates the
wave-like and particle-like behavior, treating it as a standing wave. The solution to his
equation is a wave function called ​ψ (psi) ​that is also called atomic orbitals. The ​ψ ​does
not pinpoint the exact location of electrons but gives the region where it can most probably
be found. The ​electron density gives the probability that the electron will be found in a
particular region. In this mathematical solution of Schrodinger, three ​quantum numbers
are obtained: ​principal quantum number (n), angular quantum number (ℓ), ​and
magnetic quantum number (​m​l)​ ​. We have a fourth quantum number, the ​spin quantum
number (m​s​)​ to complete the description of electrons in the atoms.

II. MOTIVATION-​Directions: ​Explain in your own words how the Heisenberg’s uncertainty
principle and Schrodinger equation give way to understanding the structure of electrons and
obtaining the knowledge of quantum numbers.

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III. DISCUSSION
Quantum Numbers
1. Principal quantum Number​—designates the energy level (also called electron shell) of
an orbital, represented by​ ​n​=1,2,3…

Value of ​ℓ 0 1 2 3
Shape/ name s p d f
of orbital

2. Angular quantum number​—defines the shape of the orbital (also called as ​subshells​);
represented by ​ℓ=​n-1 (value depends on ​n​)
thus, if ​ℓ=0, ​we have an s orbital, if ​ℓ​=1 then p orbital, etc.

3. Magnetic quantum number​—describes the specific orbital within a subshell,

determines the ​orientation​ of the orbital; represented by ​m​ℓ​= - ℓ to ℓ
e.g. ​if ​ℓ = ​1 (p subshell)
mℓ= -1,0,1
therefore, for p subshell, there are 3 orbitals present
4. Spin quantum number​—only two possible values; represented by ​m​s​= - 21 ​or​ 1
2

Electronic configuration
● Principal electronic level or electronic shell​- region in space near the nucleus
where the electrons are most likely to be found​; like floors in a hotel
● Orbitals​- 2 electrons per orbital
● Shell-​a collection of orbitals with the same value of ​n
● Subshell/sublevel​-one or more orbitals with the same value of ​n ​and ​ℓ,​ designates
maximum number of electrons; ​like types of suite in a hotel​; e.g. the shell with n=2
is composed of 2 subshells, ​ℓ=​0 and 1 (allowed values for n=2), these subshells are
2s and 2p

S sublevel 1 orbital 2 electrons (total)

P sublevel 3 orbitals 6 electrons

D sublevel 5 orbitals 10 electrons

F sublevel 7 orbitals 14 electrons

● Valence electrons​-electrons located in the outermost shell
● Octet-​ an electron configuration with a filled outer shell of eight electrons

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 Rules for Assigning Electrons to Orbitals

1. Pauli’s exclusion principle​: no 2 electrons may have all four quantum numbers alike’
an orbital can only have 2 electrons and the 2 must have opposing spins

- 1s orbital can be represented with one arrow up (up-spin) or arrow down

(down-spin)
2. Hund’s rule​: electrons found in the same energy level will initially occupy these energy
levels singly before any pairing of electrons occur
3. Aufbau process:​ electrons are assigned in order of increasing atomic number with
levels closest to the nucleus occupied first before the higher energy levels. Electrons
occupy orbitals such that it minimizes the energy of the atom. ​Electron occupies the
lowest energy orbital available like filling a hotel from the bottom up

• Example Sodium (Na) – 1​ ​s2​​ 2s​2​2p​6​3s​1

Quantum numbers:
n=​3, ​ℓ​=0, ​m​ℓ​=​0, and ​m​s​=
• Copper and chromium are
exceptions to the ​Aufbau
principle.

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IV. ​LET’S PRACTICE
Task 1:​ ​Directions:​ Rearrange the letters of the correct term that is described by the
corresponding statement. Write your answer on the space provided.
a LAPNICRIP—quantum number that represents the energy level the electron is
in
b LASTOBRI—representation of the wave function of a hydrogen-like atom
c ALGANUR MUTMENMO—quantum number that represents shape of orbitals
d NOTRECLE—particle that can be described by 4 quantum numbers
e MEGATINC—quantum number that describes the orientation of an orbital
F NEREGY EVELL—represented by ​n

Task 2:​ ​Directions:​ Answer the following questions on the space provided
1. Give the ​n ​and ​ℓ ​values for the following orbitals
a. 1s
b. 3p
c. 5f
d. 4d
2. What are the ​m​ℓ​ ​values for the following orbitals?

a. s
b. p
c. d
d. f

V. EVALUATION- ​Directions:​ Answer the following questions

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 1​.State the number of possible electrons describe by the following quantum
numbers
a. n=3, l=0
b. n=3, l=1
c. n=3, l=2, m​l​= -1
d. n=5, l=0, m​l​=-2, m​s​= -1/2

2. In the space provided, write the electron figurations of the following elements.
Use a periodic table to know the atomic number of the elements.
1. Sodium
2. Iron
3. Bromine
4. Barium
5. Chlorine

VI. SYNTHESIS
Directions:​ In the space below, write the orbital notations of the following elements:
1) manganese
2) gallium
3) nitrogen
4) sulfur
5) argon
Directions:​ Answer the following questions
6) Which has higher energy, an electron in the 3s or 2p sublevel?
7) What is the highest energy sublevel in the principal energy level for which ​n ​is
(choices: s, p, d and f)?
a. 1
b. 3
c. 5
8) What is the total capacity for electrons in:
a. An orbital?
b. A d sublevel?
c. The third (3​rd​) principal energy level?

VII. ASSIGNMENT

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 A. Directions: ​Define the keywords below:
1. Periodic table

2. Electron affinity

3. Electronegativity

4. Ionization energy

5. Atomic radius/size

6. Chemical formula

7. Molecular formula

8. Empirical formula

VII. REFERENCES
● Chang R. & Goldbsby K (2015) ​Chemistry 12​th​ ed​. New York: McGraw-Hill.
● Petrucci, Herring, Madura, and Bissonnette (2011). General Chemistry and Modern
Applications, 10th Ed. Pearson Canada, Inc.
● Zumdahl, S.S. and Zumdahl, S. A (2013).​ Chemistry, 8th ed.​ Cengage Learning

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