Hund’s rule
Definition
Hund's rule states that every orbital in a subshell is singly occupied with one electron before any one orbital is doubly occupied, and all electrons in singly occupied orbitals have the same spin. This principle minimizes electron-electron repulsions and stabilizes the atom.
Analogy
Imagine a bus with rows of seats, where passengers (electrons) prefer to sit alone in a row (orbital) with their backpacks (spin) placed on the seat next to them. Only when all rows have at least one passenger will someone sit next to another, ensuring personal space (stability) is maximized before sharing seats becomes necessary.
Related terms
Electron configuration: The distribution of electrons of an atom or molecule in atomic or molecular orbitals.
Pauli Exclusion Principle: A principle stating that no two electrons can have identical quantum mechanical states, characterized by the same set of quantum numbers within an atom.
Atomic orbital: A mathematical function that describes the wave-like behavior of either one electron or a pair of electrons in an atom
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