Electron Configurations

[Mary Shih 3J]

Should we specifiy 2pxpypx or 2p^3 for electron configurations? How should we write it for tests?

[RDove_3G]

I think he said he likes the first way because it is more specific. I don't know if that means he will require it on tests or not. Sapling used the second less specific way.

[Mary Shih 3J]

Should we specifiy 2pxpypx or 2p^3 for electron configurations? How should we write it for tests?

does this apply to the d or f subshell? what letters are used for those larger subshells

[AustinMcBrideDis3L]

I feel like I remember him saying it's useful to write it the long way because its more specific but its also not wrong to write it the shorter way. I think he will be explicit on whether it needs to be in the long form on midterms. Also I doubt he will ask us write out the ml quantum numbers for d and f because those would be extremely complex.

[Aliya 1H]

Hey! He said 2px2py2pz is better because it provides more detail but I don't think we'd get marked down for just 2p^3 on a test because it is still technically correct.

[Katie Lam 2J]

I think Dr. Lavelle said the longer, more detailed way is better. It is clearer and will help you draw the electron configurations better. However, either way is correct, and I don't think you will lose any points for doing it the shorter way unless he specifically asks for the longer form.

[Charisma Arreola 2F]

It is much easier to remember the second option, and since that is the option we use more on sapling I would suggest using that one.

[Lauren Strickland 1B]

It seems like either way should be fine unless the test specifies otherwise.

[Megan Hulsy 1A]

The first option provides greater detail, but he said that the second one is technically correct so I bet we can use both!

[Jason Knight - 1F]

Dr. Lavelle stated he wants us to become familiar with the more specific way to write and analyze electron configurations because it gives the reader a more informed understanding of what we are labeling.

[KhanTran3K]

Hi!
I believe Dr. Lavelle mentioned that the first way is better just because it mentions which orbital the electron is occupying, so it is more detailed and shows us the behavior of the electron, and more specifically Hund's rule, as they occupy different orbitals first. Since both of these ways are correct though I don't think that points would be taken off for it unless explicitly stated. Hope this helped!

[Evie Li_1H]

I would probably think that it depends on what question he is asking. For example, if we are asked to draw out the electron orbital configuration it might be better to do it the long way but if he just asks for the electron configuration written out, the shorthand might be a bit more convenient.

[Tanya Nguyen 1B]

Should we specifiy 2pxpypx or 2p^3 for electron configurations? How should we write it for tests?

does this apply to the d or f subshell? what letters are used for those larger subshells

I believe it would apply to the d and f orbitals as well. Since p has 3 orbitals there is px, py, pz. There is a total of 5 d orbitals dxy, dyz, dzx (was mentioned in the lecture), dx^2y^2, dz^2. Then there are 7 f orbitals, but it hasn't been covered yet.

[Kayla Booker 1F]

I think it's best to write it the long way because it's more specific so he can easily follow the configuration.

[Crystal Pan 2G]

Dr. Lavelle has said that he would prefer for us to use the longer notation because it will tell us more about the configuration ie. which orbital the electron is occupying rather than writing 2p3.

[derickngo3d]

I think Dr. Lavelle told us he'd accept both, but the long-hand version is preferred.