1. Excited State vs. Ground State

2. Always in Motion Electrons are always moving.
They spin very quickly around the nucleus of an atom.
They can move in any direction, as long as they stay in their shell or energy level.

3. Shell / Energy Level / Orbital
Electrons are constantly spinning in those atomic shells and those shells, or energy levels, are specific distances from the nucleus.
As you move away from the nucleus you enter a higher energy level.

4. Which energy level is the lowest? (k-q)
Which energy level is the highest? (k-q)
Can electrons move from one energy level to the next?

5. Can electrons move from one level to another?
Yes they can!
If an electron absorbs energy it can move to a higher energy level.
This is when an atom is considered to be in an excited state.
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6. Quantum
A quantum of energy is the amount of energy required to move an electron from one energy level to another energy level.

7. Ground State
Ground state is the lowest possible energy of an electron. When the electrons are in the ground state the atom is most stable.
What are the ground states for the following?
Sodium _2-8-1_
Carbon __2-4___
Aluminum ___2-8-3
Chlorine __2-8-7_

8. Excited State
The excited state is when one electron has absorb energy and jumpes to a higher energy level.
What are the excited states for the following?
Sodium __________
Carbon __________
Aluminum __________
Chlorine __________

9. Release of a Photon
During the excited state an atom is unstable, so the electron quickly falls back down to the lower energy level.
As the electron falls it releases a photon (light).

10. The kind of light energy that can be emitted by excited atoms is unique for an element.
The pattern of "lines' or colors emitted can be used to identify an element.