Question

Which of the following refers to the distance of an electron from the nucleus? It is also known as the principal quantum number.

a) Subshell
b) Spin
c) Electron
d) Valence shell
e) Shell

Answer 1

Final answer:

Shell refers to the distance of an electron from the nucleus. It is also known as the principal quantum number

The correct answer is e) Shell.

Step-by-step explanation:

The distance of an electron from the nucleus is determined by its shell, also known as the principal quantum number. In the context of atomic structure, the principal quantum number (n) represents the main energy level of an electron. It indicates the distance of the electron from the nucleus—the higher the principal quantum number, the farther the electron is from the nucleus.

In more detail, the principal quantum number is related to the energy levels of electrons in an atom. Each shell corresponds to a specific energy level, and as the principal quantum number increases, the energy level and distance from the nucleus also increase. Mathematically, the principal quantum number can take positive integer values (1, 2, 3, ...) and is a fundamental concept in the quantum mechanical description of an atom.

Understanding the principal quantum number is crucial in explaining the arrangement of electrons in different shells and subshells within an atom. The concept plays a significant role in predicting the behavior of electrons and their interactions with other atoms.

Answer 2

The distance of an electron from the nucleus, also known as the principal quantum number, is referred to as e) Shell. As the principal quantum number (n) increases, the average distance of the electron from the nucleus increases, with electrons occupying higher shells being farther away and less tightly bound to the nucleus.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term that refers to the distance of an electron from the nucleus and is also known as the principal quantum number is e) Shell. The principal quantum number (n) indicates the average relative distance of an electron from the nucleus. As n increases in a given atom, so does this average distance, meaning that electrons in higher numbers, or higher principal shells, are farther from the nucleus and are easier to remove from an atom since their attraction to the positively charged nucleus is weaker.

An electron's arrangement in the atom, or its electron configuration, reflects this quantum number. For example, the principal quantum number, n, is the first piece of information in an atom's electron configuration symbol. All wavefunctions with the same value of n are said to constitute a principal shell because those electrons have similar average distances from the nucleus.

Hence, the answer is option e.