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In each term of an electron configuration, n is the positive integer that precedes each orbital letter (helium's electron configuration is 1s 2, therefore n = 1, and the orbital contains two electrons). An atom's nth electron shell can accommodate 2n 2 electrons. For example, the first shell can accommodate two electrons, the second shell eight ...
The work function depends on the configurations of atoms at the surface of the material. For example, on polycrystalline silver the work function is 4.26 eV, but on silver crystals it varies for different crystal faces as (100) face: 4.64 eV, (110) face: 4.52 eV, (111) face: 4.74 eV. [13] Ranges for typical surfaces are shown in the table below ...
The rule then predicts the electron configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 3d 9 4s 2, abbreviated [Ar] 3d 9 4s 2 where [Ar] denotes the configuration of argon, the preceding noble gas. However, the measured electron configuration of the copper atom is [Ar] 3d 10 4s 1. By filling the 3d subshell, copper can be in a lower energy state.
The electron affinity of a surface is closely related to, but distinct from, its work function. The work function is the thermodynamic work that can be obtained by reversibly and isothermally removing an electron from the material to vacuum; this thermodynamic electron goes to the Fermi level on average, not the conduction band edge: W = E v a ...
For example, manganese (Mn) has configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 4s 2 3d 5; this is abbreviated to [Ar] 4s 2 3d 5, where [Ar] denotes a core configuration identical to that of the noble gas argon. In this atom, a 3d electron has energy similar to that of a 4s electron, and much higher than that of a 3s or 3p electron.
The single electron may reside at any point on the surface of the unit sphere. The total energy of the configuration is defined as zero because the charge of the electron is subject to no electric field due to other sources of charge. For N = 2, the optimal configuration consists of electrons at antipodal points. This represents the first one ...
The minimum amount of energy needed for an electron to leave a surface is called the work function. The work function is characteristic of the material and for most metals is on the order of several electronvolts (eV). Thermionic currents can be increased by decreasing the work function.
As an approximate rule, electron configurations are given by the Aufbau principle and the Madelung rule. However there are numerous exceptions; for example the lightest exception is chromium, which would be predicted to have the configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 3d 4 4s 2 , written as [Ar] 3d 4 4s 2 , but whose actual configuration given ...