ground state vs. excited state

[superduper12]

in all atoms the first two electrons are in the ground state (n=1)...the rest are in the excited state, n=2 or greater ...is this right?

also when an e- goes from the n=1 to n=2 or higher, it is now in the excited state, right?

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[BerkReviewTeach]

in all atoms the first two electrons are in the ground state (n=1)...the rest are in the excited state, n=2 or greater ...is this right?

also when an e- goes from the n=1 to n=2 or higher, it is now in the excited state, right?

Ground state is considered to be the lowest possible energy state for each of the electrons in the species (aom, ion, or molecule). For instance, the ground state of Be is 1s22s2, because the lowest orbitals have been filled sequentially. An excited state for Be would be something like 1s22s12p1 or 1s22s13s1, etc...

There is no stipulation about what orbitals and energy levels can only be excited or only be ground. It is based on the filling order of all of the electrons in the species.