Final answer:
The Aufbau principle, meaning "building up", dictates that electrons fill atomic orbitals starting from the lowest energy levels upwards. It is crucial for understanding the electron configuration of atoms and the organization of the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle from the German word for "build up" that predicts that electrons are assigned to orbitals in order from lowest to highest energy is known as the Aufbau principle. This principle is essential for determining the electron configuration of atoms. According to the Aufbau principle, starting with the 1s sublevel, electrons occupy the available subshell of lowest energy. The filling order then continues to higher-energy subshells like 2s, 2p, 3s, etc. This method allows us to understand the periodic table structure and the electron arrangements within an atom. It's important to note that the Aufbau principle works in conjunction with other rules such as Pauli's Exclusion Principle and Hund's Rule to ensure that the electrons fill the orbitals in a manner that minimizes the energy of the atom. The Aufbau principle is a fundamental concept in chemistry that aids in the visualization and understanding of the electron configurations of elements as they are presented in the periodic table.