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Jump to one of the following atomic and electronic structure parts:   Choose One Introduction to Atomic Structure Part 1- Atomic Spectra Part 2- Quizzes

You can choose to be quizzed on complete, abbreviated, and valence electron configurations. You'll need to decide just how many electrons to place in the correct subshells. You can also choose to be quizzes on complete orbital digrams. You'll need to place the electrons in the appropriate orbitals with the appropriate spins.

Once you've opened this quiz window for the first time, you don't need to close the window before asking for a new, random configuration. All you need to do is switch back to the main quiz window and ask for another quiz. It will appear in the same quiz window as before.

I've only programmed elements through period #5. I plan on adding periods #6 and 7 at a later date. The orbital diagrams only go through period #3. The problem with the orbital diagrams is that after period #3 they can take quite a bit of room and I have yet to find a way to handle those elements in a way that I like.

Instructions for the Electron Configuration Quiz:

Currently, there are nine quizzes available for this part that cover the first three periods (elements #1-18), periods #4-5 (elements #19-54), and all of the representative elements through period #5. You'll need to choose not only the proper subshells but the proper number of electrons that go into each subshell. For example-

The pop-up menu lets you choose a subshell. The number of electrons for that subshell can then be entered into the text box to the upper-right of the pop-up menu. In the quiz, you'll be given a choice of up to 11 subshells with which to work and you'll need to decide to use any or all of them. For any that you don't need to use, leave their subshell pop-up menus on 'NA' and leave the electron number text box empty (or you can enter 0). You need to make sure and work from left to right (leave any that need to blank to the right). If you need to use more than 1 row, wait until you fill up the first row before you move on to the second row. When you grade it, you will only be told if you are right or wrong. A future version will give you extra information when you enter an incorrect electron configuration.

Instructions for the Orbital Diagram Quiz:

Currently, there's only one quiz available for this part for the first 3 periods (elements #1-18). You'll need to place the electrons into the proper orbitals with the proper spin (up or down). For example-

Each box represents an orbital and since since this one is a d subshell, there are five boxes. Each box is divided into four sections- upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. Clicking into one of those four sections will place an electron into that orbital. Remember, only a maximum of two electrons are allowed for each orbital. Clicking in the top half of a box is the same as placing an electron in that orbital with spin up and clicking in the bottom half of a box is the same as placing an electron in that orbital with spin down. Try clicking in the boxes to see how you can put electrons in the orbitals and change their spins. If you've placed one or more electrons into an orbital and then realize that you've made a mistake (perhaps you've placed one too many electrons into an orbital), pressing the button that's labelled with the subshell designation will remove all electrons in all the orbitals for that subshell. If you haven't yet tried it, practice placing electrons, removing electrons, and changing spin to get a feel for it.

You may notice that it's possible to enter illegal spin combinations. That's been done on purpose. How else to learn but by doing it wrong and then fixing your mistakes? In the quiz page, when you submit your orbital diagram to be checked, you will be warned if you've violated Hund's rule and/or the Pauli exclusion principle. A future version of the quiz will also warn you if you violate the Aufbau principle. For the time being, when you grade your answer, I use an alert box to let you know if you are right or wrong.

The Periodic Table will always be available on any exam or quiz. Pop up a window if you need to refer to it.

Electron Configuration Quizzes:

Orbital Diagram Quizzes: