Electron configuration, photoelectron spectroscopy and periodic trends

Learning objectives

Write ground-state electron configurations for atoms and ions using the shell, subshell and orbital model, and explain the meaning of core and valence electrons

Explain the features of a photoelectron spectrum, relating peak binding energy to the subshell from which an electron is removed and peak height to the number of electrons in that subshell

Use photoelectron spectroscopy data to justify a claim about the identity of an element or about the relative shielding experienced by electrons in different subshells

Explain periodic trends in atomic and ionic radius, first ionization energy and electronegativity using effective nuclear charge, shielding and the distance of the valence shell from the nucleus

Account for irregularities in first ionization energy across a period, and explain successive ionization energy jumps in terms of removing an electron from a core shell