Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
5C
As the knowledge base of chemistry progressed, scientists realized that the structure of matter was much more complex than originally thought. The quantum mechanical model explains certain trends and patterns in the periodic table by using energy level diagrams. The procedure writing an electron configuration is as follows:
1) Determine the number of electrons from the periodic table
2) Assign electrons by main energy level and then by sublevel, using an energy-level diagram or an Aufbau diagram
3) Distribute electrons into orbitals that have the same energy according to Hund’s rule
4) Fill each sublevel before starting with the next sublevel. Continue until all electrons are assigned
1) Determine the number of electrons from the periodic table
2) Assign electrons by main energy level and then by sublevel, using an energy-level diagram or an Aufbau diagram
3) Distribute electrons into orbitals that have the same energy according to Hund’s rule
4) Fill each sublevel before starting with the next sublevel. Continue until all electrons are assigned
Hook:
Show an interesting video about ferromagnetic fluids, and all the cool designs that they can make. This should lead into a gradual discussion on magnetism and how it is a property shared by certain elements. Discuss why certain elements are magnetic, and others are not magnetic.
Action:
Review the aforementioned rules for drawing energy level diagrams. Assign different elements to different students, for which they must complete the energy level diagrams. The students must then complete the diagrams and post them around the class. The students do a gallery walk, and place a check mark next to the correctly completed diagrams. Otherwise, they make the corrections and then place a check mark. All the diagrams should be anonymous, with no names on the sheet.
Consolidation:
Review the diagrams that many students struggled with as a class, and assign practice diagrams from the textbook.