Atomic Structure and Electron Configuration

AP Chemistry· difficulty 2/5

Hund's rule states that within a degenerate set of orbitals (e.g., p or d),

A
$Electrons singly occupy each orbital before pairing, with parallel spins$
check_circle
B
$Pairs of opposite spin in each orbital$
C
$All electrons pair up first$
D
$Electrons skip orbitals randomly$

Explanation

Maximizing total spin (Hund's rule of maximum multiplicity) gives lower energy due to reduced electron-electron repulsion.

Want 10 more like this — adaptive to your weak spots?

Related questions