General Chemistry: Atomic Structure and Periodic Trends Flashcards

What is the correct ground-state electron configuration of copper (Z = 29)?

Answer: [Ar]3d¹⁰4s¹

Copper is an exception to the Aufbau principle; it adopts [Ar]3d¹⁰4s¹ because a fully filled 3d subshell provides extra stability.

Which equation correctly gives the energy of a photon?

Answer: E = hν

Planck's equation E = hν states that photon energy equals Planck's constant (h) multiplied by the photon's frequency (ν).

The de Broglie hypothesis proposes that:

Answer: All matter exhibits wave-like properties with wavelength λ = h/mv

de Broglie proposed that all matter has an associated wavelength λ = h/mv, extending wave-particle duality beyond photons to all particles.

Hund's rule states that electrons in degenerate orbitals will:

Answer: Occupy separate orbitals with parallel spins before any pairing

Hund's rule states that electrons fill degenerate orbitals singly with parallel spins before any orbital receives a second electron.

Which property generally INCREASES as you move down a group in the periodic table?

Answer: Atomic radius

Atomic radius increases down a group because each successive element gains an additional electron shell, increasing the distance between the nucleus and valence electrons.

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that:

Answer: The exact position and exact momentum of a particle cannot both be precisely known simultaneously

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle mathematically limits how precisely both position and momentum of a particle can be simultaneously determined (Δx · Δp ≥ ℏ/2).

Among the elements Li, Be, B, and Ne, which has the highest first ionization energy?

Answer: Ne

Noble gases have the highest ionization energies in their periods because their completely filled valence shells are exceptionally stable and strongly resist electron removal.