Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. An orbital can accommodate at most two electrons.

2. Four quantum numbers are needed to uniquely describe an electron.

3. When two or more orbitals of equal energy are available, electrons will occupy them singly and with parallel spins before filling them in pairs.

4. The exact location of an electron and its velocity cannot be simultaneously determined with precision.

5. In the usual order of filling, the 5p orbital is filled before the 4d orbital.

Question

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1.  An orbital can accommodate at most two electrons.

2.  Four quantum numbers are needed to uniquely describe an electron.

3.  When two or more orbitals of equal energy are available, electrons will occupy them singly and with parallel spins before filling them in pairs.

4.  The exact location of an electron and its velocity cannot be simultaneously determined with precision.

5.  In the usual order of filling, the 5p orbital is filled before the 4d orbital.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by listing and evaluating each statement in the prompt to understand what is being claimed about atomic structure and quantum principles.

Option 1: 'An orbital can accommodate at most two electrons.' This is a correct statement based on the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons in the same atom can have identical quantum numbers, effectively allowing a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins in a single orbital.

Option 2: 'Four quantum numbers are needed to uniquely describe an electron.' This is true in general: n (principal), l (azimuthal), m_l (magnetic), and m_s (spin) specify the state of an electron in an atom, giving a unique description.

Option 3: 'When two or more orbitals of equal energy are available, electrons will occupy them singly and with parallel spins before filling them in pairs.' This reflects Hund's rule, which reduces electron-electron repulsion by maximizing total spin when degenerate orbitals are available.

Option 4: 'The exact location of an electron and its velocity cannot be simultaneously determined with precision.' This is a restatement of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which prohibits precise simultaneous knowledge of position and momentum (and thus velocity) for a particle such as an electron.

Option 5: 'In the usual order of filling, the 5p orbital is filled before the 4d orbital.' This is inconsistent with the Aufbau principle and known filling order: after 5s, the 4d shell is filled, before the 5p subshell; thus 5p is not filled before 4d.

Considering these assessments, statements 1, 2, 3, and 4 are correct, while statement 5 is incorrect. Consequently, the option choices that list only the correct statements would reflect that same set, whereas any option that includes statement 5 would be inaccurate.

In summary, the validity of each item hinges on foundational quantum concepts (Pauli exclusion, quantum numbers, Hund's rule, and the uncertainty principle) and the established order of orbital filling (aufbau sequence). The erroneous one among them hinges on a common misremembering of the filling order of 5p versus 4d.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

The nucleus can be positively or negatively charged depending on the identity of the atom.

How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in one atom of 67Zn ?

Read each statement below and identify all true statements. Circle all correct answers.

In any neutral atom, there are equal numbers of

A 187Re3- anion contains [Fill in the blank] protons, [Fill in the blank] neutrons, and [Fill in the blank] electrons. (Input numbers only.)

Which of the following statements about the modern atomic model is/are incorrect?

Atoms are composed of

How many electrons, protons, and neutrons are there in the ion 103 45 X3+?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler