1
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY ACS: STUDY
GUIDE 2026- WELL REVISED ASSESSMENT
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Slater's rules - correct-answer -tell us what the effective nuclear charge will be,
Zeff=Z-sigma, Z is the atomic number, sigma=sum of the number of electrons in a
given subtle multiplied by a weighting coefficient (page 1)
Shielding - correct-answer -the reduction in charge attraction between the
nucleus and electrons due to electrons between the nucleus and the electron in
question, it is considered the be between if it has a lower energy
penetration - correct-answer -when an electron of a higher atomic orbital is found
within the shell of electrons of a lower atomic number, that is to say that an
electron of higher energy is found within an orbital of lower energy
electron affinity - correct-answer -the difference in energy for a neutral gaseous
atom, and the gaseous anion. used interchangeably with electron gain enthalpy.
more positive=more stable EA with the additional electron, more positive
EGE=more stable with extra electron
,2
Combination of electron affinity and ionization energy - correct-answer -
electronegativity, overall measure of an atoms ability to attract electrons to itself
when part of a compound, fluorine has highest electronegativity
polarizability - correct-answer -an atoms ability to be distorted by an electric field,
regions of a molecule can take on partial positive or partial negative charge
Why do we use the hydrogen system approximation - correct-answer -systems
involving multiple electrons are much more complex, and they require the use of
quantum mechanics
What is the formula for the energy of a hydrogen orbital - correct-answer -E=-
13.6(eV)*(Z^2/n^2), h is plancks constant (background on pg 4)
Energy can be expressed in... - correct-answer -Joules, wavenumber, inverse
centimeters
quantum number N - correct-answer -principle quantum number, defines energy
and size of orbital
,3
quantum number L - correct-answer -orbital angular momentum quantum
number, defines the magnitude of the orbital angular momentum, as well as the
angular shape of the orbital, L can have values of 0 to n-1.
quantum number Ml - correct-answer -magnetic quantum number, describes the
orientation of the angular momentum, ml can have values of 0 to +/-1
quantum number Ms - correct-answer -spin magnetic quantum number, defines
intrinsic angular momentum of an electron, Ms can have values of either +1/2 or -
1/2
Radial wavefunction - correct-answer -(R(r)), along with the angular wavefunction,
gives us the orbitals. With a wave function it is possible to completely characterize
a particle, goes to zero at infinity, produce characteristic shapes when graphed
Radial distribution function - correct-answer -a plot of R^2(r)r^2, tells us
probability of finding an electron at a certain distance from the nucleus, every
orbital has a different radial distribution function and a node on the graph is a
region of zero probability
, 4
Bohr radius - correct-answer -the most probably distance to find the electron in a
one proton, one electron system (52.9 pico-meters)
What orbitals correspond to l=0 through l=4 - correct-answer -L=0=s, L=1=p,
L=2=d, L=3=f, L=4=g
Building up principle/Hund's rule - correct-answer -when degenerate orbitals are
available for occupation, electrons occupy separate orbitals with parallel spin
Pauli exclusion principle - correct-answer -no more than two electrons can occupy
a single orbital, and to do so, their spins must be paired
Descibe VSEPR - correct-answer -purpose is to predict molecular geometries,
basic assumption is that regions of enhanced electron density take positions as far
apart as possible in order to minimize repulsive forces.
Relative repulsion strengths VSEPR - correct-answer -lone pair> multiple bonds>
single bonds
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY ACS: STUDY
GUIDE 2026- WELL REVISED ASSESSMENT
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Slater's rules - correct-answer -tell us what the effective nuclear charge will be,
Zeff=Z-sigma, Z is the atomic number, sigma=sum of the number of electrons in a
given subtle multiplied by a weighting coefficient (page 1)
Shielding - correct-answer -the reduction in charge attraction between the
nucleus and electrons due to electrons between the nucleus and the electron in
question, it is considered the be between if it has a lower energy
penetration - correct-answer -when an electron of a higher atomic orbital is found
within the shell of electrons of a lower atomic number, that is to say that an
electron of higher energy is found within an orbital of lower energy
electron affinity - correct-answer -the difference in energy for a neutral gaseous
atom, and the gaseous anion. used interchangeably with electron gain enthalpy.
more positive=more stable EA with the additional electron, more positive
EGE=more stable with extra electron
,2
Combination of electron affinity and ionization energy - correct-answer -
electronegativity, overall measure of an atoms ability to attract electrons to itself
when part of a compound, fluorine has highest electronegativity
polarizability - correct-answer -an atoms ability to be distorted by an electric field,
regions of a molecule can take on partial positive or partial negative charge
Why do we use the hydrogen system approximation - correct-answer -systems
involving multiple electrons are much more complex, and they require the use of
quantum mechanics
What is the formula for the energy of a hydrogen orbital - correct-answer -E=-
13.6(eV)*(Z^2/n^2), h is plancks constant (background on pg 4)
Energy can be expressed in... - correct-answer -Joules, wavenumber, inverse
centimeters
quantum number N - correct-answer -principle quantum number, defines energy
and size of orbital
,3
quantum number L - correct-answer -orbital angular momentum quantum
number, defines the magnitude of the orbital angular momentum, as well as the
angular shape of the orbital, L can have values of 0 to n-1.
quantum number Ml - correct-answer -magnetic quantum number, describes the
orientation of the angular momentum, ml can have values of 0 to +/-1
quantum number Ms - correct-answer -spin magnetic quantum number, defines
intrinsic angular momentum of an electron, Ms can have values of either +1/2 or -
1/2
Radial wavefunction - correct-answer -(R(r)), along with the angular wavefunction,
gives us the orbitals. With a wave function it is possible to completely characterize
a particle, goes to zero at infinity, produce characteristic shapes when graphed
Radial distribution function - correct-answer -a plot of R^2(r)r^2, tells us
probability of finding an electron at a certain distance from the nucleus, every
orbital has a different radial distribution function and a node on the graph is a
region of zero probability
, 4
Bohr radius - correct-answer -the most probably distance to find the electron in a
one proton, one electron system (52.9 pico-meters)
What orbitals correspond to l=0 through l=4 - correct-answer -L=0=s, L=1=p,
L=2=d, L=3=f, L=4=g
Building up principle/Hund's rule - correct-answer -when degenerate orbitals are
available for occupation, electrons occupy separate orbitals with parallel spin
Pauli exclusion principle - correct-answer -no more than two electrons can occupy
a single orbital, and to do so, their spins must be paired
Descibe VSEPR - correct-answer -purpose is to predict molecular geometries,
basic assumption is that regions of enhanced electron density take positions as far
apart as possible in order to minimize repulsive forces.
Relative repulsion strengths VSEPR - correct-answer -lone pair> multiple bonds>
single bonds
