Chapter 3, Problem 3.114QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The ground-state electron configuration of tellurium should be identified by using Aufbau principle.

Concept Introduction:

An orbital is an area of space in which electrons are orderly filled.  The maximum capacity in any type of orbital is two electrons.  An atomic orbital is defined as the region of space in which the probability of finding the electrons is highest.  It is subdivided into four orbitals such as $s,p,dandf$ orbitals which depend upon the number of electrons present in the nucleus of a particular atom.

There are three basic principles in which orbitals are filled by the electrons.

1. 1. Aufbau principle: In German, the word 'aufbau' means 'building up'.  The electrons are arranged in various orbitals in the order of increasing energies.
2. 2. Pauli exclusion principle: An electron does not have all the four quantum numbers.
3. 3. Hund’s rule: Each orbital is singly engaged with one electron having the maximum same spin capacity after that only pairing occurs.

The electron configuration is the allocation of electrons of an atom in atomic orbitals.  Electronic configuration of a particular atom is written by following the three basic principles.

To find: Identify the ground-state electron configuration of tellurium