Lesson: Electron Energy Levels Physics

Students will be able to

• understand that electrons in atoms are in discrete energy levels,
• understand electron shell diagrams:
  • understand that the nucleus is at the center,
  • understand that the circles around the center represent electron shells,
  • understand that the circles/shells/energy levels are counted from the innermost to the outermost,
• understand the terms electron energy level and electron shell,
• understand when an electron shell is filled:
  • know how many electrons can fit into each of the first three shells of an atom (2, 8, and 18),
  • identify whether a given shell is filled or unfilled from a diagram,
• understand that the shells further out can carry more electrons than those further in,
• identify elements based on electron shell configurations shown in diagrams for both neutral and charged atoms,
• understand excited states:
  • understand the term excited states,
  • identify electrons in excited states,
• understand electron transitions:
  • identify allowed transitions,
  • know that a photon is absorbed or emitted in a transition,
  • know that electron transitions between states that are further apart produce higher-energy photons.