THE QUANTUM

MECHANICAL MODEL

JONA G. APOLONIO
Teacher
In this lesson, you will learn how the Quantum
Mechanical Model of the atom describes the
energies and positions of the electrons. In
particular, we will develop a picture of the
electron arrangements in atoms – a picture that
allows us to account for the chemistry of the
various elements.
Structure of an Atom
 The Bohr Model of the Atom
In 1911, Niels Bohr received
his Ph.D. in Physics. He was
convinced that the atom
could be pictured as a small
positive nucleus with
electrons orbiting around it.
 The Bohr Model of the Atom
Over the next two years, Bohr
constructed a model of the hydrogen
atom with quantized energy levels.
Bohr pictured the electron moving in
circular orbits corresponding to the
various allowed energy levels. He
suggested that the electron could
jump to a different orbit by absorbing
or emitting a photon of light with
exactly the correct energy content.
 The Bohr Model of the Atom
At first, Bohr’s model appeared very promising. It fit
the hydrogen atom very well. However, when this
model was applied to atoms other than hydrogen, it did
not work.
Electrons do not move around the nucleus in circular
orbits like planets orbiting the sun.
Surprisingly, as we shall see later in this lesson, we do
not know exactly how the electrons move in an atom.
The Wave Mechanical Model of
the Atom
Two young physicists, Louis Victor De Broglie
from France and Erwin Schrödinger from Austria,
suggested that because light seems to have both
wave and particle characteristics (it behaves
simultaneously as a wave and as a stream of particle)
the electron might also exhibit both of these
characteristics. ---DUALITY OF LIGHT.
The Wave Mechanical Model of
the Atom
In the Bohr’s model, the electron was assumed to
move in circular orbits. In the wave mechanical
model, on the other hand, introduced a
mathematical description of the electron’s
motion called a wave function or atomic orbital.
The Wave Mechanical Model of
the Atom
Schrödinger’s equation required the use of
quantum numbers to describe each electron
within an atom corresponding to the orbital size,
shape, and orientation in space. Later it was
found that one needed a quantum number
associated with the electron spin.
Quantum Numbers and Orbitals

In atoms, there are a total of four quantum

numbers: the principal quantum number (n),
the orbital angular momentum quantum
number (l), the magnetic quantum number
(ml), and the electron spin quantum number
(ms).
 Principle Quantum Number (n)
Describes the size and energy of the orbital and
relative distance from the nucleus. The possible
values of n are positive integers (1, 2, 3, 4 and so on).
The smaller the value of n, the lower the energy, and
the closer to the orbital is to the nucleus.
Sometimes refer to the principle quantum number as
designating the shell the electron is occupying.
Principle Quantum Number (n)
 Angular Momentum Quantum
Number (l)
Describe the shape of the orbitals

Its value is related to the principle quantum number

and has allowed value of 0 to (n-1). For example, if n =
4, then the possible values of l would be 0, 1, 2, and 3
(= 4-1).
 Angular Momentum Quantum
Number (l)
Things to remember:
If l = 0, then the orbital is called an s-orbital and has a
spherical shape with the nucleus at the center of the
sphere. The greater the value of n, the larger is the
sphere.
If l = 1, then the orbital is called a p-orbital with two
lobes of high electron density on either side of the
nucleus, for an hourglass or dumbbell shape.
 Angular Momentum Quantum
Number (l)
Things to remember:
If l = 2, then the orbital is a
d-orbital with a variety of
shapes.
If l = 3, then the orbital is an
f-orbital with more complex
shapes An s-orbital (sharp) has spherical shape; a p-
orbital (principal) has two lobes; a d-orbital
(diffuse) has four lobes; and an f-orbital
(fundamental) has eight lobes.
 Magnetic Quantum Number (ml)
It describes the orientation of the orbital sound
around the nucleus.
The possible values of ml depend upon the value
of the l quantum number. The allowed values for
ml are -l to 0 to +l.
 Magnetic Quantum Number (ml)

For example, for l = 3, the possible values of ml

would be -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3. This is why, for
example if l = 1 (a p-orbital), there are three p-
orbitals (sublevels) corresponding to ml values of -1,
0, +1.
 Spin Quantum Number (ms)
Indicates the direction the electron is spinning.
There are only two possible values for ms: +1/2
and -1/2.
When two electrons are to occupy the same
orbital, then one must have an ms = +1/2 and the
other electron must have an ms = -1/2. These are
spin paired electrons.
 ASSIGNING THE FOUR QUANTUM
NUMBERS
Question 1: If n = 7, what are the possible
values of l?

Answer: Since l can be zero or a positive integer

less than (n-1), it can have a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6.
 ASSIGNING THE FOUR QUANTUM
NUMBERS
Question 2: If n = 3 and l = 2, then what are the
possible values of ml?

Answer: Since ml must range from -l to +l , then ml

can be: -2, -1, 0, 1, 2.
 ASSIGNING THE FOUR QUANTUM
NUMBERS
Question 3: List all the possible combinations of all four
quantum numbers when n = 2, l = 1, and ml = 0.
Answer: The fourth quantum number is independent of the
first three, allowing the first three quantum numbers of two
electrons to be the same. Since the spin can be +1/2 or -1/2,
there are two combinations:
n = 2, l = 1, ml = 0, ms = +1/2 and n = 2, l = 1, ml = 0 ms = -
1/2
 Electron Configuration
Quantum Mechanics may be used to
determine the arrangement of the electrons within
an atom if two specific principles are applied: the
Pauli exclusion principle and the Aufbau principle.
 Pauli Exclusion Principle
States that no two electrons in an atom can have
the same set of the four quantum numbers.
For example, if an electron has the following set of
quantum numbers: n = 1, l = 0, ml = 0 ms = +1/2,
then no other electron in that atom may have the
same set. The Pauli exclusion principle limits all
orbitals to only two electrons.
 Aufbau Principle
Describes the order in which the electrons enter
the different orbitals and sublevels.
The arrangement of electrons builds up from the
lowest energy level.
The most stable arrangement of electrons has all the
electrons with the lowest possible energy.
 Electron Configuration
The most common way of indicating the
arrangement of the electrons in an atom.
The electron configuration, the use of the n and l
quantum numbers along with the number of
electrons.
 Electron Configuration
The principle quantum number, n, is represented by
an integer (1, 2, 3…), and a letter represents the l
quantum number (0 = s, 1 = p, 2 = d, and 3 = f).
Any s-subshell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons,
any p-subshell can hold up to 6 electrons, any d-
subshell can hold a maximum of 10 electrons, and f-
subshell can hold up to 14 electrons.
 Electron Configuration
We can represent the electron configuration by using a
box diagram, in which orbitals are represented by boxes
grouped by sublevel with small arrows indicating the
electrons.
The s-orbital is represented as 1 box with maximum of 2
electrons; p-orbital having 3 boxes with maximum of 6
electrons; d-orbital having 5 boxes with maximum of 10
electrons; and f-orbital having 7 boxes with maximum of
14 electrons and so forth
Electron Configuration
Si Sisa Pumunta Sa Palengke
Si Danny Pumunta Sa Dagat Para Sa Fish
Dun Pa Sa Finaka Dulo
Para Sa Fish Dun Fresh

HYDROGEN 1 = 1s 1
HELIUM 2 = 1s 2
IRON 26 = 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 4s 2 3d 6
Aluminum 13 = 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 1
1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 4s 2 3d 10 4p 6 5s 2 4d 10 5p 6
6s 2 4f 14 5d 10 6p 6 7s 2 5f 14 6d 10 7p 6 8s 2 6f 14 7d
10
7f 14
Si Sisa Pumunta Sa Palengke
Si Danny Pumunta Sa Dagat Para Sa Fish
Dun Pa Sa Finaka Dulo
Para Sa Fish Dun Fresh

HYDROGEN =
HELIUM =
IRON 26 =
Aluminum 13 =
1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 4s 2 3d 10 4p 6 5s 2 4d 10 5p 6
6s 2 4f 14 5d 10 6p 6 7s 2 5f 14 6d 10 7p 6 8s 2 6f 14 7d
10
7f 14
 Electron Configuration
In applying electrons to the boxes using the arrows, you must first
complete the “upward arrows” for all boxes before applying the
remaining “downward arrows”.
Write the electron configuration of the following elements and show
the arrangement of electrons using the box diagram.

1. Silicon (Si) -

2. Potassium (K)

3. Phosphorus (P)
 THANK YOU!

Prepared by:
JONA G. APOLONIO
Teacher