State Energy Calculator
Calculate relative energies of different electron configurations.
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Understanding Hund's Rules
The Three Rules
Hund's rules determine the lowest energy state:
- Maximum Multiplicity: Electrons in orbitals of equal energy spread out to maximize unpaired spins
- Maximum Angular Momentum: Maximum total orbital angular momentum L
- Spin-Orbit Coupling: J = |L - S| for less than half-filled shells, J = L + S for more than half-filled
Physical Basis
The rules are based on:
- Electron-electron repulsion
- Exchange energy
- Quantum mechanical effects
- Spin-orbit interaction
- Coulomb interactions
Applications
Hund's rules are important in:
- Atomic spectroscopy
- Molecular orbital theory
- Magnetic properties
- Chemical reactivity
- Electronic structure
Exceptions
Known exceptions include:
- Heavy elements
- Excited states
- Strong crystal fields
- Relativistic effects
- Jahn-Teller distortions