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Explain why multiplicity determines the ground state free ion term symbol
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The ground state free ion term symbol is determined by Hund's rules, which are based on the concept of multiplicity. Multiplicity refers to the number of possible spin states for an atom or ion. It is calculated as 2S+1, where S is the total spin angular momentum. According to Hund's rules, the ground state term symbol is the one with the highest multiplicity. This is because the electrons in the ground state will occupy orbitals in a way that maximizes their spin multiplicity, leading to a more stable configuration. For example, in the case of nitrogen, the ground state term symbol is 4S3, indicating that it has a spin multiplicity of 4, which is the highest possible for nitrogen. This is because the three p electrons in nitrogen occupy separate orbitals with their spins parallel, resulting in a total spin angular momentum of S=3/2.
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