Chapter 2.2, Problem 2.5E

A nitrogen atom, with three 2p electrons, could have three unpaired electrons $\left(\underset{\_}{\uparrow }\underset{\_}{\uparrow }\underset{\_}{\uparrow }\right)$ , or itcould have one unpaired electron $\left(\underset{\_}{\uparrow \downarrow }\underset{\_}{\uparrow }\underset{\_}{}\right)$ .

a. Determine the number of electrons that could be exchanged in each case and the Coulombicand exchange energies. Which state would be lower in energy?
b. A third possible state for a $2p^3$ configuration would be $\left(\underset{\_}{\uparrow }\underset{\_}{\uparrow }\underset{\_}{\downarrow }\right)$ . Determine itsCoulombic and exchange energies, and compare the energy of this state with the energiesdetermined in part a.