Chemistry Atomic Structure PMDC Conceptual Practice
PMDC Verified Question 1 of 95
The electronic configuration for degenerate orbitals is explained by:
A
Aufbau's Principle
B
\( (n + l) \) Rule
C
Hund's Rule
D
Pauli's Exclusion Principle
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option C: Hund's Rule
Concept: Degenerate orbitals are orbitals of equal energy (e.g., the three \( p \)-orbitals: \( p_x, p_y, p_z \)). A specific rule is required to dictate how electrons distribute themselves among them.

Formula: None required.

Solution:
  • Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity states that if two or more degenerate orbitals are available, electrons will occupy them singly with parallel spins before they begin to pair up.
  • This minimizes electrostatic repulsion between electrons, leading to a lower, more stable energy state for the atom.


Why other options are incorrect: Aufbau and the \( (n+l) \) rule explain the sequence of filling different energy levels. Pauli's principle restricts orbital capacity to two electrons with opposite spins.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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