According to Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity, how do electrons occupy degenerate orbitals of equal energy?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Electrons occupy orbitals singly with parallel spins before pairing occurs
- Step 1: Degenerate orbitals have identical energy (such as the three 2p orbitals). Step 2. Maximum stability is achieved when electrons occupy them singly with parallel spins to minimize electron-electron repulsion and maximize exchange energy. Answer: Electrons occupy orbitals singly with parallel spins before pairing occurs. Why not the others: Immediate pairing increases Coulomb repulsion; magnetic quantum number restriction is false; anti-parallel spins reduces exchange energy.
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