Moderate

The orbitals of a nitrogen atom may be represented by which of the following arrangement of electrons in the ground state?

Correct answer: B. Option B

  • A. Option A
  • B. Option B
  • C. Option C
  • D. Option D

Explanation

Nitrogen has 7 electrons. The first 2 fill the 1s orbital, next 2 fill the 2s orbital. The remaining 3 electrons occupy the three degenerate 2p orbitals singly, following Hund's rule, which states that electrons fill degenerate orbitals singly with parallel spins before pairing. This gives the ground-state electron configuration of nitrogen.

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About Atomic Structure

Atomic structure covers the discovery of the proton, Planck's quantum theory, hydrogen emission spectra and the evidence for quantized energy levels. You will use quantum numbers to describe orbitals, distinguish s, p, d and f orbital shapes, and write electronic configurations, including the correct order of electron filling.

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