1666 TEKS header image

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Science concepts. The student understands the development of atomic theory and applies it to real-world phenomena.

The current understanding of electron orbitals is a quantum mathematical model. The equations describe three-dimensional areas in which an electron of a particular energy level is most likely to be found. These areas are called orbitals and have been given the designations s (red), p (yellow), d (blue), and f (green). The origin of the coordinate plane is centered on the nucleus of the atom and the colored areas indicate the locations where there is a high probability of finding an electron.

A representation of the 1s, 2p, 3d, and 4f atomic orbitals
Image URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Single_electron_orbitals.jpg


Quantum phenomena and their applications are taught in Physics.

the smallest particle of matter that has distinct physical and chemical properties; consists of a nucleus which contains protons and neutrons and an electron cloud which contains electrons

a theory of the nature of matter: all material substances are composed of minute particles or atoms of a comparatively small number of kinds and all the atoms of the same kind are uniform in size, weight, and other properties

a negatively charged subatomic particle that can be either free (not attached to any atom) or bound to the nucleus of an atom and has negligible mass; determines the chemical reactivity of an element

a pure substance that is made up of one type of atom

a diagram that describes the chemical bonding between atoms in a molecule where dots represent the valence electrons in the atom, ion, or molecule

detectable events that are observed through the senses or technology; can be explained through scientific laws, ideas, principles, and theories

Research

Sari, M. P., A.Hardinata, Andromeda, and Bayharti. "Students’ Generated Electron Configurations of Chemical Elements: An Explorative Study." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1317, no. 1 (2019): 012205. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1317/1/012205

Summary:  This study aimed to explore students’ understanding of the electron configuration of chemical elements based on the quantum mechanics atomic model. The findings revealed that most students made mistakes in writing electron configuration, especially when it comes to ions. Based on the analysis of the source of these mistakes, we provided recommendations to improve students’ understanding of this concept in future learning.

Research

Goldman, Slade, Katie A. Coscia, and Lauren A. Genova."ChemisTree: A Novel, Interactive Chemistry Game to Teach Students about Electron Configuration." Journal of Chemical Education 101, no. 4 (2024): 1750-1757. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00678

Summary:  Electron configuration provides insight into the chemical behaviors of elements and is an important concept for students to master in introductory chemistry. To better strengthen undergraduate students' mastery of electron configurations of atoms and ions, we designed a novel, interactive chemistry game called ChemisTree that uses active-learning techniques (e.g., physically building electron configurations onto a game board, small group work, and whole class discussion) and incorporates the three rules for electrons filling orbitals (Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule), using LEGO tiles and plates to represent electrons and orbitals.