1. What is an Orbital Diagram?

An orbital diagram is a visual representation of the electron configuration of an atom, showing the arrangement of electrons in atomic orbitals. It uses arrows to represent electrons and boxes to represent orbitals.

2. How to Read Orbital Diagrams

• Each box represents an atomic orbital
• Arrows represent electrons (↑ for spin-up, ↓ for spin-down)
• Orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle
• Electrons occupy separate orbitals when possible (Hund's rule)

3. Electron Configuration Rules

Aufbau Principle: Electrons fill orbitals from lowest to highest energy.
Pauli Exclusion Principle: No two electrons can have identical quantum numbers.
Hund's Rule: Electrons will occupy empty orbitals in the same subshell before pairing up.

4. Using the Calculator

Steps: Select an element from the dropdown, choose a charge if needed, and click "Generate Diagram" to see the orbital filling diagram.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the up and down arrows represent?
A: The arrows represent electron spin - up (↑) for +½ spin and down (↓) for -½ spin.

Q2: Why are some orbitals half-filled?
A: Due to Hund's rule, electrons prefer to occupy separate orbitals in the same subshell before pairing up.

Q3: How does charge affect the diagram?
A: Positive charges mean fewer electrons (cations), negative charges mean more electrons (anions).

Q4: What are the exceptions to the rules?
A: Some elements like Cr and Cu have exceptions due to increased stability of half-filled or fully-filled d subshells.

Q5: Can I see the electron configuration notation?
A: Yes, the calculator provides both the orbital diagram and standard electron configuration notation.