Frequently Asked Question

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Term symbol for ground state energy level

Accepted Answer

The term symbol for the ground state energy level depends on the specific atom or molecule. For atoms, the ground state term symbol is determined by the following rules:
1. Hund's Rule: The term with the highest multiplicity (2S+1) is the ground state.
2. Maximum L: For a given multiplicity, the term with the highest total orbital angular momentum (L) is the ground state.
3. Lowest J: For a given multiplicity and L, the term with the lowest total angular momentum (J) is the ground state.
For example, the ground state term symbol for a carbon atom is 3P0. This indicates that the carbon atom has a total spin of S=1, a total orbital angular momentum of L=1, and a total angular momentum of J=0. For molecules, the ground state term symbol depends on the specific bonding and electronic configuration.


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