Ground-State Electron

Definition

A ground-state electron is an electron that occupies the lowest available energy level in an atom or molecule. It has the least amount of potential energy compared to other electrons in higher energy levels.

Related terms

Energy Level Diagram:

An energy level diagram is a visual representation that shows the different energy levels or orbitals of an atom or molecule.

Excited State: An excited state occurs when an electron absorbs enough energy to move to a higher-energy level than its ground state.

Valence Electron: Valence electrons are outermost electrons in atoms that participate in chemical bonding with other atoms.