Hello,
Can anyone explain the difference between ground state and excited state?
Thank you!
Ground state vs. excited state
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:10 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
The ground state is the lowest possible energy level of a particular atom and is the most stable state. The excited state occurs when the atom absorbs energy and the electrons jump to a higher energy level than the ground state, but since it is unstable it will return back to the ground state.
-
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:28 am
- Been upvoted: 1 time
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
Hi,
I believe ground state refers to the lowest possible energy level for an electron. In regards to electron configurations, this would be like the lowest energy state of the atom's electrons. The configurations we've been practicing in class (which takes into account the Aufbau principle) are examples of ground state electron configurations. Just as a side note, the Aufbau principle states that in the ground state, electrons fill up the lowest energy shells first.
On the other hand, the excited state is the opposite! Basically, it refers to deviations from the Aufbau principle. In the attachment, the bottom electron configuration is an example of an excited state, as seen in how there is only one electron in the 2s shell; this is because the electron became excited and reached a higher energy state (the 2p shell).
Hope this helps :)
I believe ground state refers to the lowest possible energy level for an electron. In regards to electron configurations, this would be like the lowest energy state of the atom's electrons. The configurations we've been practicing in class (which takes into account the Aufbau principle) are examples of ground state electron configurations. Just as a side note, the Aufbau principle states that in the ground state, electrons fill up the lowest energy shells first.
On the other hand, the excited state is the opposite! Basically, it refers to deviations from the Aufbau principle. In the attachment, the bottom electron configuration is an example of an excited state, as seen in how there is only one electron in the 2s shell; this is because the electron became excited and reached a higher energy state (the 2p shell).
Hope this helps :)
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:11 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
Hi, the ground state is a state in which the electrons of an atom are at the lowest possible energy levels, and excited state is any state of energy higher than that of the ground state. Naturally they have key differences, such as energy being zero for ground state/nonzero for excited state, high stability for ground state/instability for excited state, etc. Electrons jump between energy levels depending on how much energy they absorb from their surroundings, but eventually they will return to a stable ground state.
Hope this helps differentiate them a bit!
Hope this helps differentiate them a bit!
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
Ground state simply means that the atom and all of its electrons are in the lowest possible energy state. Atoms are the most stable when electrons are in the ground state. Excited state is just when an electron is excited and moves to a different shell or orbital. This occurs when the atom absorbs energy. Due to instability the electron will eventually give off energy and return to the ground state.
-
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:25 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
In its ground state, an atom is the most stable, with all of its electrons in their lowest energy states. When an atom is excited, one of its electrons is "excited" and in a higher energy level than it should be according to the Aufbau principle. For example, the ground state configuration of Oxygen is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^4, but in its excited state, its configuration may be 1s^2 2s^2 2p^3 3s^1, in which the excited electron jumped from the 2p orbital to the 3s orbital.
-
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:32 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
At ground state, an electrons are at distance from the nucleus that puts the atom in the most stable state (lowest potential energy). In an excited state, an electron has been given enough energy to jump to a specific energy level that puts the atom in an unstable state.
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:54 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
The ground state is the lowest energy level and the most stable. All the electron configurations are normal and spun correctly
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:20 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
Hi!
The ground state is basically when the electron is the most stable and in its lowest energy level. The excited state is when the atom when absorbs energy and electrons jump to a higher energy level. Typically, the excited state is unstable so electrons will return to the ground state.
The ground state is basically when the electron is the most stable and in its lowest energy level. The excited state is when the atom when absorbs energy and electrons jump to a higher energy level. Typically, the excited state is unstable so electrons will return to the ground state.
-
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:30 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
You can determine whether you have a ground state or an excited state from the electron configuration. For example, for the element chlorine, the ground state electron would be . You can see that all the lower levels are filled with the maximum required electrons. However, in an excited state, the lower levels are not filled to the max. For the element chlorine, this could look like: . Notice how the 3s orbital does not have the max amount of electrons to move to the next orbital. This shows that it is in an excited state.
-
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:54 am
Re: Ground state vs. excited state
The ground state of an atom is when its electrons have not absorbed any energy and are currently in their typical orbitals and subshells. In an excited state, electrons have absorbed energy and have jumped to a new energy level, and will eventually give off that energy and return to their ground state.
Return to “Quantum Numbers and The H-Atom”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests