2.1.2 Electrons, Orbitals, and Electron Shells

Question 1

orbitals

Answer 1

• the cloud-like areas where electrons are found. Orbitals combine to form shells, which correspond to the energy level of the electrons within them.

Question 2

Wolfe’s Seven Rules of Chemistry

Answer 2

1. Orbitals hold two electrons each.
2. Orbitals combine to form shells.
3. The first shell has one orbital in it (it holds two electrons).
4. The other shells hold four orbitals or multiples of four orbitals.
5. One electron goes into each orbital in a shell before any orbital gets a second electron.
6. The outer shell is the valence shell. The electrons in the outer shell are valence electrons.
   If an orbital in a shell is not full, then it can bond with another atom.
7. The further the electrons are from the nucleus, the more potential energy the electrons will have

Question 3

valence shell

Answer 3

• outer shell of an atom is called its valence shell. The electrons in the valence shell are called valence electrons

Question 4

rule 3

Answer 4

• Hydrogen has only one electron, so its electron is found in the first shell. Helium has two electrons, which fill the first shell.

Question 5

rule 4

Answer 5

• Lithium has one more electron that must go in the second shell. The second shell has four orbitals so it can hold a total of eight electrons

Question 6

rule 5

Answer 6

• Each orbital in a shell must have one electron before any orbital can have two. Because carbon has four electrons, each orbital has one electron each

Question 7

rule 6

Answer 7

• Because fluorine’s valence shell is not full, fluorine can form bonds. Atoms—such as neon—with full valence shells do not form bonds with other atoms.

Question 8

An atom of which element consists solely of one proton and one electron in its elemental form?

Answer 8

• hydrogen

Question 9

An atom is reactive if

Answer 9

• the valence shell is not full

Question 10

True or false?

Carbon has six electrons in its outer shell.

Answer 10

• false

Question 11

most of an atom is

Answer 11

• empty space

Question 12

True or false?

More than two electrons can be in a particular orbital.

Answer 12

• false

Question 13

An electron shell represents

Answer 13

• a level of potential energy that the electron exists in.

Question 14

True or false?

More than one orbital can be in a particular electron shell.

Answer 14

• true