Which quantum mechanical principle asserts that no two electrons in an atom can have the exact same four quantum numbers?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Pauli exclusion principle
The Pauli exclusion principle states that two electrons in an atom cannot share identical values for n, l, ml, and ms. As a result, an individual orbital (defined by n, l, ml) can hold at most two electrons, which must have opposite spins (+1/2 and -1/2).
Practise more Atomic Structure and Periodic Properties.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Medical University Entrance Examination (Bulgaria) mock tests.
More Atomic Structure and Periodic Properties questions
- Which set of quantum numbers describes an electron in a 3d subshell orbital?
- What is the ground-state electron configuration of the transition metal chromium (Z = 24)?
- What is the ground-state electron configuration of the neutral copper atom (Z = 29)?
- Which rule states that electrons fill degenerate orbitals singly with parallel spins before pairing up?
- Why does oxygen have a slightly lower first ionization energy than nitrogen (1314 vs 1402 kJ/mol)?
- Why does boron have a lower first ionization energy than beryllium (801 vs 899 kJ/mol)?