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Science 9
Quarter 2- Matter
Module 1: Electronic Structure of Matter

The module focuses on achieving this learning competency: Explain how the Quantum
Mechanical Model of the atom describes the energies and positions of the electrons.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

 predict the probable location of the electron/s in an atom (electron cloud, Heisenberg’s
Uncertainty Principle);
 describe electron configuration and write the correct electron configuration of the given
element;
 describe the set of quantum numbers and complete the given set of quantum numbers for each
given element; and
 supply the following data from the electron configuration such as: period number, group
number, number of paired and unpaired electrons, number of valence electrons and number of
core electrons.

When you were in Grade 8 you have learned that the atomic model of Rutherford shows that
the atom is mostly an empty space and its mass is concentrated at the center of an atom. You also
learned that light is composed of different wavelength and frequencies. The frequency of the color of
the lights is inversely proportional to the wavelength. In this module, you will learn about the model of
the atom, which is called the quantum atomic model, the probability of finding the location of
electrons, and the different types of quantum numbers and its description.

Here are some key questions for you to ponder after finishing this module:

1. How does Bohr’s atomic model different from Rutherford’s atomic model?
2. What is the basis for the quantum mechanical model of the atom?
3. How are the electrons arranged in an atom?
4. What is the basis of such arrangement?
5. What is the information that can be gathered from the electron configuration of an atom?

The Electronic Structure of Matter Joseph John Thomson conducted an experiment using the
cathode ray tube. His experiments resulted in the discovery of the electron. He named his atomic model
as the nuclear model of the atom. During the fireworks display we are amazed in the different colors of
its flame and this is because it is made up of different metallic elements that releases by different
amount of energy when it absorbed the heat and that is because of the excited electrons. This
determines the color or the wavelength of the light emitted. For example, when barium chloride heated
it produces green color because the metallic element barium is responsible for that color while copper
chloride produces a blue color because the metallic copper emits that color. Light is a radiant energy
travelling in space through a wave form. Each radiation is characterized by a wavelength and amplitude.
The wavelength is the distance between two successive crests while the amplitude is the height of the
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wave. The wavelength determines the amount of energy it carries. The shorter the wavelength the
higher the energy.

A glass prism can be used to separate the components of light. The white light from the sun
produces different colors of the spectrum that shows the different wavelengths similar to a rainbow. A
flame test could be used to identify the elements and the energy it produced.

Niels Bohr explained that each atomic spectra of elements indicates the transformation of
energy within the atom. He concluded that the electrons as particle that are moving around the nucleus
with fixed energy where he called as energy level. But in a more sensitive spectroscope finer lines are
seen within each line of color. It means that each main energy level in an atom consists of sublevels.
When the electron is on its ground state there is an absorption of energy, the electron jumps to a higher
energy level. Then, as the electron goes back to its original energy level, it will release energy.
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The main energy level is made up of sublevels of energy in which the energy level is made up of
one or more sublevels. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle states that it is not possible to determine the
exact location and velocity of an electron in an orbital at the same time. But there is a probability that
the electron will be in a certain region in an atom which is called as the electron cloud. It is also
described as the region composed of negatives surrounding the nucleus associated with the atomic
orbital.

The Quantum Mechanical Model was introduced by Schrodinger. This model shows how likely
an electron can be found around the nucleus. It looks like a cloud of negative charges having a certain
geometrical figure. The Quantum Mechanical Model also gives the information about the energy of the
electron. It also describes region of space around the nucleus as consisting of shells it is also called the
principal or main energy levels.

There are different kinds of Quantum Numbers: 50 1. Principal quantum number (n) describes the
energy level of an electron in an atom. It can be expressed using the letters of an alphabet like K, L, M,
N, O, P and Q energy level. 2. Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l) it describes the way on how the
electrons move around the nucleus. It determines the shape of an orbital.

Examples:
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3. Magnetic Quantum Number (ml) it refers to the possible behavior of the electrons in a magnetic field.
The m values are as follows:

4. Spin Quantum Number (ms) describes the rotations or the spins on how the electrons move on their
own axis as they move around the nucleus. The spinning charge create the magnetic field that make the
electron comparable to a magnet. The electron spinning clockwise has the - ½ values. The electrons that
are spinning counter - clockwise have the + ½ values. You may use the table below as your guide or
reference.

Notes: S means sharp, P means principal, D means diffuse, F means fundamental

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Rules Governing Electronic Configuration 1. The Aufbau Principle requires that the electrons
occupy the lowest possible energy level before filling up the next. 2. Pauli’s Exclusion Principle states
that no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum number; the spin quantum number limits
the number of electrons in an orbital to a maximum of two. 3. Hund’s Rule requires that the electrons fill
the orbitals in a sub level, one by one, before pairing the electrons in an orbitals spin in opposite
direction.

Arrangement of Electrons in the atoms of the First 10 Elements

You can also use the electron configuration to

identify some of the information about the elements in terms of the following like the group number,
the period number, the number of paired and unpaired electrons and also the valence electrons.

Example:

Sodium (Na) Electron configuration: 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1

Group Number: 1 Valence Electron: 1

Period: 3

Energy Level: 1