Electron configuration

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/electron-configuration

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What are electron orbitals?Electron orbitals are like fuzzy clouds around the nucleus where electrons are most likely to be found. They are described by wave functions that give the probability of locating an electron in a particular region.
2. Why don’t electrons stay in fixed circles like planets?Because of quantum mechanics, electrons behave more like waves than tiny balls. Their positions are uncertain, so they exist as probability clouds instead of fixed paths.

Quantum Numbers: A set of numbers describing the properties of each electron in an atom, including energy level, shape, and orientation of its orbital.
Atomic Orbitals: Three-dimensional regions around the nucleus where there is a high probability of finding an electron, defined by quantum numbers.
Aufbau Principle: The rule stating that electrons fill atomic orbitals starting with the lowest energy levels first.