Grade 12 chemistry homework help -- 2n^2 electrons possible in each energy level

In summary, the classmate's reasoning that u is the highest possible value for n because of the maximum number of electrons in an atom is flawed. This is because the value of n can range from n=1 to n=infinity, and the atom with the most electrons currently has 118 electrons, but this number can continue to increase in the future. Additionally, there are an infinite number of energy levels in an atom, not a finite number as the classmate assumed.
  • #1
allanwinters
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Homework Statement



A classmate says "Since there are 2n^2 electrons possible in each energy level, and the atom with the greatest number of electrons has 118 electrons, that must mean that u is the highest possible value for n, because a value of 7 gives 2n^2 = 98 nad a value of 8 gives 2n^2=128.

Homework Equations



a) state two problems with this reasoning
b)How many energy levels are there for a given atom

The Attempt at a Solution


So far I said the problem for his reasoning was that the value of n can range from n=1 to n= infinity for a) and for b) I've said that there are an infinite amount of energy levels in an atom.
 
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  • #3
When I was born element with the highest electron count had only 103 electrons.

Also, I never had more than $10.000 on my bank account. Does it mean $10.000 is the largest amount of money bank account can hold?
 

1. How do you determine the number of electrons that can occupy each energy level in an atom?

The number of electrons that can occupy each energy level in an atom is determined by the formula 2n^2, where n represents the energy level. For example, the first energy level (n=1) can hold a maximum of 2 electrons (2(1)^2=2), the second energy level (n=2) can hold a maximum of 8 electrons (2(2)^2=8), and so on.

2. Why is the number of electrons in each energy level limited to 2n^2?

The number of electrons in each energy level is limited to 2n^2 because of the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of quantum numbers. This means that each energy level can only hold a maximum of 2 electrons with opposite spins, as there are only two possible spin states for an electron.

3. Can an energy level have less than 2n^2 electrons?

Yes, an energy level can have less than 2n^2 electrons. This is because the maximum number of electrons in an energy level is determined by the formula 2n^2, but the actual number of electrons in an energy level depends on the number of protons in the atom. If an atom has fewer protons, it will have fewer electrons in each energy level.

4. How does the number of electrons in each energy level affect the chemical properties of an atom?

The number of electrons in each energy level directly affects the chemical properties of an atom. The outermost energy level, also known as the valence level, is the most important in determining an element's chemical behavior. If the valence level is full, the element is stable and less likely to react with other elements. If the valence level is not full, the element is more likely to form chemical bonds with other elements to achieve a full valence level.

5. Are there any exceptions to the 2n^2 rule for the number of electrons in each energy level?

Yes, there are a few exceptions to the 2n^2 rule. For example, the first energy level (n=1) can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, but the second energy level (n=2) can hold a maximum of 8 electrons, instead of 2(2)^2=8. This is because of the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons fill the lowest energy levels first before moving to higher energy levels. This leads to some variations in the number of electrons in each energy level for certain elements.

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