Electron Configurations

Neon’s shell model sits beside a spectrum. Click through and watch what changes.

Shell-model spectrum

From our last module, you may have drawn a PES diagram that looks like this, based on our understanding of the shell model.

1s² 2s² 2p⁶

Electron shells, subshells, and IE

Ionization energies for the first eighteen elements, by subshell. Work the questions on paper.

Ionization energy (MJ/mol) by subshell · H–Ar
El	1s	2s	2p	3s	3p

What is the experimental method of obtaining the data for this table?
Describe how you would use PES data to write an electron configuration.
Does this table have enough information to write an electron configuration? Why or why not?
Describe any patterns or trends you see in this data. Use Coulomb’s law to justify these patterns and trends.

Answer on paper — the sim does not check your responses.

Help nudges land with each beat.

What this was for