Chapter-2 Structure of Atom
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. Arrange s, p and d sub-shells of a shell in the increasing
order of effective nuclear charge (Zeff) experienced by the
electron present in them.
Answer.
The increasing order of effective nuclear charge (Z eff)
experienced by the electron present in them is s > p > d
because s is close to the nucleus, and it will shield the nuclear
charge more effectively.
Q2. Show the distribution of electrons in an oxygen atom
(atomic number 8) using an orbital diagram.
Answer.
The distribution of electrons in an oxygen atom using an orbital
diagram is-
From the above diagram, it can be concluded that oxygen has
two unpaired electrons.
Q3. Nickel atom can lose two electrons to form Ni²+ ion. The
atomic number of nickel is 28. From which orbital will nickel
lose two electrons?
Answer.
Ni atom’s electronic configuration is [Ar]18 3d8 4s2. It will lose
two electrons from the 4s orbital to form Ni 2+ with the
electronic configuration [Ar]18 3d8 4s0.
Q4. Which of the following orbitals are degenerate?
3dxy,4dxy,3dz2,3dyz,4dyz,4dz2
Answer.
Degenerate orbitals are those that have the same shells and
subshells. Hence,
3dxy,4dxy,3dz2,3dyz,4dyz,4dz2
are all degenerate orbitals.
Q5. Calculate the total number of angular nodes and radial
nodes present in the 3p orbital.
Answer.
For the 3p – orbital, the principal quantum number is n = 3 and
the azimuthal number is l = 1.
Number of angular nodes will be l = 1
The number of radial nodes is equal to n – l – 1 = 3 – 1 – 1 = 1.
Q6. The arrangement of orbitals on the basis of energy is
based upon their (n+l) value. Lower the value of (n+1), the
lower is the energy. For orbitals having the same values of
(n+l), the orbital with a lower value of n will have lower energy.
I. Based upon the above information, arrange the following
orbitals in the increasing order of energy.
(a) 1s, 2s, 3s, 3p
(b) 4s, 3s, 3p, 4d
(c) 5p, 4d, 5d, 4f, 6s
(d) 5f, 6d, 7s, 7p
II. Based upon the above information, solve the questions given
below :
(a) Which of the following orbitals has the lowest energy?
4d, 4f, 5s, 5p
(b) Which of the following orbitals has the highest energy?
5p, 5d, 5f, 6s, 6p
Answer.
I.
1. 1s < 2s < 3s < 3p
2. 3s < 3p < 4s < 4d
3. 4d < 5p < 6s < 4f < 5d
4. 7s < 5f < 6d < 7p
II.
1. 5s has the lowest energy.
2. 5f has the highest energy.
Q7. Which of the following will not show deflection from the
path on passing through an electric field?
Proton, cathode rays, electron, neutron.
Answer.
Neutrons will not deviate from their path when passing through
an electric field because they are neutral in nature and thus are
unaffected by any electrical field.
Q8. An atom having atomic mass number 13 has 7 neutrons.
What is the atomic number of the atom?
Answer.
The atomic number can be calculated by
Atomic Number = Mass Number – Number of neutrons
Atomic Number = 13 – 7 = 6.
Hence, the atomic number will be 6.
Q9. Wavelengths of different radiations are given below:
λ(A) = 300 nm
λ(B) = 300 μm
λ (C) = 3 nm
λ = 0 (D) 30 Å
Arrange these radiations in the increasing order of their
energies.
Answer.
Since, E ∝ 1/ λ
Therefore, λ(B) < λ(A) < λ(C) = λ(D)
300μm < 300 nm < 3 nm = 30Å
Q10. The electronic configuration of the valence shell of Cu is
3d10 4s1 and not 3d9 4s2. How is this configuration explained?
Answer.
This is explained by the orbital symmetry principle, which
states that orbitals that are completely or partially filled in a
given subshell have extra stability.
As a result, the 3d10 4s1 copper configuration is more
symmetrical and stable than the 3d9 4s2 configuration.
Q11. The Balmer series in the hydrogen spectrum corresponds
to the transition from n₁ = 2 to n₂ = 3,4,… This series lies in the
visible region. Calculate the wave number of the line associated
with the transition in the Balmer series when the electron
moves to n = 4 orbit. (RH = 109677 cm-¹)
Answer.
⊽⊽=109677[1(n1)2−1(n2)2]cm−1
For n1 = 1, and n2 = 4
⊽⊽=109677[1(2)2−1(4)2]cm−1
⊽ = 20564.44 cm–1.
Q12. According to de Broglie, the matter should exhibit dual
behaviour, that is, both particle and wave like properties.
However, a cricket ball of mass 100 g does not move like a
wave when it is thrown by a bowler at a speed of 100 km/h.
Calculate the wavelength of the ball and explain why it does
not show wave nature.
Answer.
According to de Broglie,
The wavelength=λ=hmv
m = 100 g = 0.1 kg.
v=100km/hr=100×100060×60=100036ms−1
h =6.626×10-34 Js
Therefore, in this case-
λ=6.626×10−34Js0.1kg×100036ms−1
λ = 238.5 × 10-36 m
Since the wavelength is too small to detect, it does not exhibit
wave nature.
Q13. What is the experimental evidence in support of the idea
that electronic energies in an atom are quantized?
Answer.
The bright-line spectrum demonstrates that an atom’s energy
levels are quantized. Classical mechanics cannot explain the
behaviour of electrons, atoms, and molecules, among other
things. This is due to the fact that classical mechanics ignores
the concept of matter’s dual nature. Quantum mechanics takes
these theories into account.
Q14. Out of electrons and protons which one will have a higher
velocity to produce matter waves of the same wavelength?
Explain it.
Answer.
λ=hmv
m1v1=m2v2 for two different particles with the same
wavelength, i.e electron and proton (h is constant ). The
particle’s velocity increases as its mass decreases. As a result,
for the same wavelength, the electron will have a higher
velocity because its mass is less than that of the proton.
Q15. A hypothetical electromagnetic wave is shown in Fig. Find
out the wavelength of the radiation.
Answer.
The distance between two successive peaks or troughs of a
wave is defined as its wavelength. So λ = 4 × 2.16 pm = 8.64
pm.
Q16. Chlorophyll present in green leaves of plants absorbs light
at 4.620 x 1014 Hz. Calculate the wavelength of radiation in
nanometer. Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum does it
belong to?
Answer.
Given: 𝜈 = 4.620 x 1014 Hz or 4.620 x 1014 s-1.
λ=cν
λ=cν=3×108ms−14.620×1014s−1
λ = 0.6494 x 10-6 m = 649.4 nm.
Thus, it belongs to the visible region.
Q17. What is the difference between the terms orbit and
orbital?
Answer.
Orbit Orbitals
An orbital refers to the
dimensional motion of an
electron around the nucleus
An orbit is the simple planar in a three-dimensional
representation of an electron. motion.
It can be simply defined as the
path that gets established in a An orbital can simply be
circular motion by revolving defined as the space or the
the electron around the region where the electron is
nucleus likely to be found the most.
The shape of molecules cannot
be explained by an orbit as The shapes of the molecules
they are non-directional by can be found as they are
nature. directional by nature.
An orbit that is well-defined An ideal orbital agrees with
goes against the Heisenberg the theory of Heisenberg’s
principle. Principles.
Q18. Table-tennis ball has a mass of 10 g and a speed of 90
m/s. If speed can be measured with an accuracy of 4% what will
be the uncertainty in speed and position?
Answer.
Given: speed = 90 m/s, mass = 10 g = 10 × 10 -3 kg.
Uncertainty in speed (Δv) = 4% of 90 m/sec
=4×90100=36m/sec
Δx.Δv=h4Πm
From Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Δz=h4Πm×Δv
Δz=6.626×10−34Js4×3.14×10×10−3kg×36ms−1
Δx = 1.46 × 10-33 m.
Q19. The effect of the uncertainty principle is significant only
for the motion of microscopic particles and is negligible for
macroscopic particles. Justify the statement with the help of a
suitable example.
Answer.
The uncertainty principle has no practical application in our
daily lives, i.e. in the macroscopic world. It is because a
photon’s energy is insufficient to change the position and
velocity of macroscopic objects. Only in the case of smaller
moving particles such as electrons does the uncertainty
principle come into play.
Δx.Δv=h4Πm
If the Heisenberg uncertainty principle is to be applied on an
object with a mass of about a milligram, then,
Δx.Δv=6.626×10−34Js4×3.14×10−6kg
Δx.Δv=0.52×10−28Js
The value of Δx.Δv obtained is very small and insignificant. As a
result, for milligram-sized or heavier objects, the associated
uncertainties are hardly significant.
Q20. A hydrogen atom has only one electron, so mutual
repulsion between electrons is absent. However, in
multielectron atoms mutual repulsion between the electrons is
significant. How does this affect the energy of an electron in
the orbitals of the same principal quantum number in
multielectron atoms?
Answer.
The principal quantum number determines the energy of an
electron in a hydrogen atom. As a result, the energy of the
orbitals increases in the following way:
1s < 2s = 2p < 3s = 3p = 3d < 4s = 4p = 4f < (2.23)
Unlike the hydrogen atom, the energy of an electron in a
multielectron atom is determined not only by its principal
quantum number (shell) but also by its azimuthal quantum
number (subshell). That is, for a given principal quantum
number, the energies of s,p,d,f…. are all different.
Matching Type Questions
In some of the following questions, one option in the left
column may be correlated to more than one option in the right
column.
Q1. Match the following species with their corresponding
ground state electronic configuration.
Atom / Ion Electronic configuration
(i) Cu (a) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10
(ii) Cu²+ (b) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2
(iii) Zn2+ (c) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s1
(iv) Cr3+ (d) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d9
(e) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3
Answer.
Atom / Ion Electronic configuration
(i) Cu (c) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s1
(ii) Cu²+ (d) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d9
(iii) Zn2+ (a) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10
(iv) Cr3+ (e) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3
Q2. Match the quantum numbers with the information provided
by these.
Quantum number Information provided
(i) Principal quantum number (a) orientation of the orbital
(ii) Azimuthal quantum
number (b) energy and size of orbital
(iii) Magnetic quantum number (c) spin of electron
(iv) Spin quantum number (d) shape of the orbital
Answer.
Quantum number Information provided
(i) Principal quantum number (b) energy and size of orbital
(ii) Azimuthal quantum
number (d) shape of the orbital
(iii) Magnetic quantum number (a) orientation of the orbital
(iv) Spin quantum number (c) spin of electron
Q3. Match the following rules with their statements:
Rules Statements
(a) No two electrons in an atom
can have the same set of four
(i) Hund’s Rule quantum numbers.
(b) Half-filled and completely
(ii) Aufbau Principle filled orbitals have extra stability.
(c) Pairing of electrons in the
orbitals belonging to the same
(iii) Pauli Exclusion subshell does not take place until
Principle each orbital is singly occupied.
(d) It is impossible to determine
the exact position and exact
(iv) Heisenberg’s momentum of a subatomic
Uncertainty Principle particle simultaneously.
(e) In the ground state of
atoms, orbitals are filled
in the order of their
increasing energies.
Answer.
Rules Statements
(c) Pairing of electrons in the orbitals
belonging to the same subshell does not
take place until each orbital is singly
(i) Hund’s Rule occupied.
(e) In the ground state of atoms, orbitals
(ii) Aufbau are filled in the order of their increasing
Principle energies.
(iii) Pauli
Exclusion (a) No two electrons in an atom can have
Principle the same set of four quantum numbers.
(iv) Heisenberg’s (d) It is impossible to determine the
Uncertainty exact position and exact momentum of a
Principle subatomic particle simultaneously.
Q4. Match the following
(i) X-rays (a) v = 100-104 Hz
(ii) UV (b) v = 1010 Hz
(iii) Long radio waves (c) v = 1016 Hz
(iv) Microwave (d) v = 1018 Hz
Answer.
(i) X-rays (d) v = 1018 Hz
(ii) UV (c) v = 1016 Hz
(iii) Long radio waves (a) v = 100-104 Hz
(iv) Microwave (b) v = 1010 Hz
Q5. Match the following
(i) Photon (a) Value is 4 for N shell
(ii) Electron (b) Probability density
(iii) Ψ2 (c) Always positive value
(iv) Principal quantum (d) Exhibits both momentum and
number n wavelength
Answer.
(d) Exhibits both momentum and
(i) Photon wavelength
(d) Exhibits both momentum and
(ii) Electron wavelength
(b) Probability density (c) Always
(iii) Ψ 2
positive value
(iv) Principal quantum (a) Value is 4 for N shell (c) Always
number n positive value
Q6. Match species given in Column I with the electronic
configuration given in Column II.
Column I Column II
(i) Cr (a) [Ar]3d8 4s0
(ii) Fe2+ (b) [Ar]3d10 4s1
(iii) Ni2+ (c) [Ar]3d6 4s0
(iv) Cu (d) [Ar]3d5 4s1
(e) [Ar]3d6 4s2
Answer.
Column I Column II
(i) Cr (d) [Ar]3d5 4s1
(ii) Fe2+ (c) [Ar]3d6 4s0
(iii) Ni2+ (a) [Ar]3d8 4s0
(iv) Cu (b) [Ar]3d10 4s1
Assertion and Reason Type Questions
In the following questions a statement of Assertion (A) followed
by a statement of Reason (R) is given. Choose the correct
option out of the choices given below each question.
Q1. Assertion (A): All isotopes of a given element show the
same type of chemical behaviour. Reason (R): The chemical
properties of an atom are controlled by the number of electrons
in the atom.
1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of
A.
2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
of A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. Both A and R are false.
Answer.
Correct Answer is (1.) Both A and R are true and R is the correct
explanation of A.
All isotopes have the same atomic number, which means they
have the same number of electrons. So, they bear similar
chemical properties.
Q2. Assertion (A): Black body is an ideal body that emits and
absorbs radiation of all frequencies.
Reason (R): The frequency of radiation emitted by a body goes
from a lower frequency to a higher frequency with an increase
in temperature.
1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of
A.
2. Both A and R are true but R is not the explanation of A
3. A is true and R is false;
4. Both A and R are false.
Answer.
Correct Answer is (2.) Both A and R are true but R is not the
correct explanation of A.
A black body is an ideal body that emits and absorbs radiation
of all frequencies, and the radiation emitted by such a body is
known as black body radiation. The exact frequency distribution
of a black body’s emitted radiation is determined solely by its
temperature. At a given temperature, the intensity of radiation
emitted increases as the wavelength decreases, reaches a
maximum at a given wavelength, and then begins to decrease
as the wavelength decreases further.
Q3. Assertion (A): It is impossible to determine the exact
position and exact momentum of an electron simultaneously.
Reason (R): The path of an electron in an atom is clearly
defined.
1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of
A.
2. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation
of A.
3. A is true and R is false.
4. Both A and R are false.
Answer.
Correct Answer is (3.) A is true and R is false.
The exact position and exact momentum of an electron cannot
be determined simultaneously, according to Heisenberg’s
uncertainty principle. As a result, the electron’s path in an atom
is not well defined.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. What is the photoelectric effect? State the result of a
photoelectric effect experiment that could not be explained on
the basis of laws of classical physics. Explain this effect on the
basis of quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation.
Answer.
The photoelectric effect occurs when certain metals are
exposed to a light beam, causing electrons to be ejected from
the metal. This is known as the photoelectric effect. The ejected
electrons are known as photoelectrons.
This experiment yielded the following results:
1. Electrons are ejected from the metal surface only when a
light beam strikes it.
2. The number of electrons that make up the intensity of
radiation.
3. There is a minimum frequency, v0, for each metal below
which the photoelectric effect is not observed.
4. K.E. of electrons α frequency of light.
Explanation of the photoelectric effect based on quantum
theory: When a sufficiently energetic photon collides with an
electron in a metal atom, the photon transfers its energy to the
electron, and the electron is ejected without delay. The higher
the energy of the photon, the higher the kinetic energy of the
ejected electron.
Q2. Threshold frequency, Vo is the minimum frequency that a
photon must possess to eject an electron from a metal. It is
different for different metals. When a photon of frequency 1.0 x
1015 s-1 was allowed to hit a metal surface, an electron having
1.988 x 10–19 J of kinetic energy was emitted. Calculate the
threshold frequency of this metal. Show that an electron will
not be emitted if a photon with a wavelength equal to 600 nm
hits the metal surface.
Answer.
hv = h0 + K.E
hv0 = hv – K.E
v0=v−[Link]
v = 1.0 × 1015 s–1
K.E. = 1.988 × 10-19 J, h = 6.626 × 10–34 Js
v0=(1.0×1015s−1)−1.988×10−19J6.626×10−34Js
v0=1.0×1015s−1−0.30×10−15s−1
v0 = 7 × 1014 s–1
λ = 600 nm = 600 × 10-9 m = 6.0 × 10-7 m
v=cλ=3.0×108ms−16×10−7m=5×1014s−1
Thus, v < v0 and therefore, no electron will be emitted.
Q3. When an electric discharge is passed through hydrogen
gas, the hydrogen molecules dissociate to produce excited
hydrogen atoms. These excited atoms emit electromagnetic
radiation of discrete frequencies which can be given by the
general formula
What points of Bohr’s model of an atom can be used to arrive
at this formula? Based on these points, derive the above
formula giving a description of each step and each term.
Answer.
The following are the two key points of Bohr’s model that can
be used to derive the given formula:
(i) Electrons orbit the nucleus in a circular path with a fixed
radius and energy. Orbits, stationary states, and allowed
energy states are all names for these paths.
(ii) When an electron moves from a higher stationary state to a
lower stationary state or from a lower stationary state to a
higher stationary state, energy is emitted or absorbed. The
equation gives the energy difference between the two orbits.
ΔE = E2 – E1
When an electron jumps from outer orbit n2 to inner orbit n1,
the difference of energy (ΔE) is emitted.
ΔE=E2−E1=−2Π2me4n22h2−(−2Π2me4n12h2)
⊽ = ΔE/hc
ΔE=E2−E1=−2Π2me4h2(1n12−1n22)
=−2Π2me4ch2(1n12−1n22)
By putting the values of π, m, c, h and e we get-
⊽=
109677(1n12−1n22)cm−1
Q4. Calculate the energy and frequency of the radiation
emitted when an electron jumps from n = 3 to n = 2 in a
hydrogen atom.
Answer.
n2 = 3, n1 = 2
⊽=
109677(1n12−1n22)cm−1
=109677(122−132)cm−1
=109677×536=15232.9cm−1
λ = 1/⊽
λ=115232.9=6.564×10−5cm=6.564×10−7m
E=hcλ=6.6×10−34Js×3×108ms−16.564×10−7m
Frequency 𝜈 = c/λ
E=3.028×10−19J
𝜈 = 4.57 × 1014 s-1.
ν=3×108ms−16.56×10−7=0.457×1015s
Q5. Why was a change in the Bohr Model of atom required?
Due to which important development (s), the concept of
movement of an electron in an orbit was replaced by, the
concept of probability of finding an electron in an orbital? What
is the name given to the changed model of the atom?
Answer.
A modification to the Bohr model was required due to certain
defects. The Bohr model is applied to atoms with a single
electron. It cannot account for multi-electron atoms. It also
claims that electrons move in circular orbits around the
nucleus, which is incorrect.
The dual behaviour of matter and the Heisenberg uncertainty
principle were two significant developments that contributed
significantly to the formulation of such a model.
In 1972, Werner Heisenberg, a German physicist, stated the
uncertainty principle, which is the result of the dual behaviour
of matter and radiation. The existence of definite paths or
trajectories of electrons and other similar particles is governed
by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which is one of its
most important implications.
Quantum mechanics is a theoretical science that studies the
motions of microscopic objects that have both observable wave
and particle properties. The new atom model is known as the
Quantum Mechanical Model of Atom.