Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Electrons and Energy Levels
Dr. DeBacco
Electrons in Energy Levels
Energy levels (also called electron shells) are the specific regions around an atom’s nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.
They act like a building where each level can hold a certain number of electrons and has a specific energy.
Remember…
Electrons are negatively charged particles that occupy quantized energy levels, around the positively charged nucleus.
Lower energy levels are closer to the nucleus and are filled first
Higher energy levels are farther out and have more energy
How Many Electrons can Each Level Hold?
Note: These are maximums.
Atoms don’t always fill all levels completely.
Jumping Electrons
Electrons can jump between energy levels by absorbing or releasing energy:
Absorb energy → move to a higher level (excited state)
Release energy → fall back to a lower level (ground state), often emitting light
Using Bohr’s Model
Electrons are not randomly scattered, but in specific circular orbits around the nucleus.
These orbits are labeled as n = 1, 2, 3, ... where n is the principal quantum number (energy level).
The closer the orbit is to the nucleus, the lower the energy.
Units Matter… nm
nm measures the wavelength of light involved in electron transitions.
It’s inversely related to energy: shorter wavelength = higher energy.
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1X6au7Alp8PsuM5biGPzf2Ka2LWEbpmeM/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Electrons and Energy Levels" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1ciS9zE0pRmJds87GIWPlXPPEa3ZYSMku/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Electrons and Energy Levels
Dr. DeBacco
Electrons in Energy Levels
Energy levels (also called electron shells) are the specific regions around an atom’s nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.
They act like a building where each level can hold a certain number of electrons and has a specific energy.
Remember…
Electrons are negatively charged particles that occupy quantized energy levels, around the positively charged nucleus.
Lower energy levels are closer to the nucleus and are filled first
Higher energy levels are farther out and have more energy
How Many Electrons can Each Level Hold?
Note: These are maximums.
Atoms don’t always fill all levels completely.
Jumping Electrons
Electrons can jump between energy levels by absorbing or releasing energy:
Absorb energy → move to a higher level (excited state)
Release energy → fall back to a lower level (ground state), often emitting light
Using Bohr’s Model
Electrons are not randomly scattered, but in specific circular orbits around the nucleus.
These orbits are labeled as n = 1, 2, 3, ... where n is the principal quantum number (energy level).
The closer the orbit is to the nucleus, the lower the energy.
Units Matter… nm
nm measures the wavelength of light involved in electron transitions.
It’s inversely related to energy: shorter wavelength = higher energy.
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1X6au7Alp8PsuM5biGPzf2Ka2LWEbpmeM/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Electrons and Energy Levels" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1ciS9zE0pRmJds87GIWPlXPPEa3ZYSMku/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
