Another Gen Chem Problem

[pauly11235]

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When something goes from a lower energy state to a higher energy state, which orbital does it lose first. Like, [Ar]4s1 3p6 goes to [Ar]4s2 3p5 is that emitting or absorbing energy. TopScore says absorbing but I dont understand why. Please help!


Thanks

 

[yakuza]

do you mean 3d6 and not 3p6?

 

[pauly11235]

Well TopScore posted it the way I did. I just don't understand what the ground state configuration of an atom is. Like is the ground state of Oxygen 2s2 2p4 or is it 2s1 2p5 or is it 2s0 2p6. Which one of those three emit energy/absorb energy.

 

[yakuza]

Well TopScore posted it the way I did. I just don't understand what the ground state configuration of an atom is. Like is the ground state of Oxygen 2s2 2p4 or is it 2s1 2p5 or is it 2s0 2p6. Which one of those three emit energy/absorb energy.

Good question.

Arite so......
Ground state oxygen: [He] 2s2, 2p4

But then if light hits it...the oxygen absorbs e- gets promoted to its "excited" state: [He] 2s2, 2p3, 3s1

Here, the oxygen moves an e- from its P to the next thing which is S because its excited.
And things want to be in their normal ground state, so it will emit an e- going back to [He] 2s2, 2p4