Chemistry
Aufbau Principle
Quick fact
The Aufbau principle states that electrons fill the lowest available energy levels first before moving to higher ones.
Why this is interesting
Did you know that electrons don't just randomly fill up an atom? They follow a specific order, much like people lining up for ice cream.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Aufbau Principle
Imagine electrons as tiny marbles falling into different-sized cups. The smallest and shallowest cup (lowest energy orbital) gets filled first, then the next one, until all marbles are placed. This is how electrons arrange themselves in atoms.
A deeper explanation
The Aufbau principle describes how electrons fill atomic orbitals in order of increasing energy. Electrons occupy the lowest available energy level before moving to higher ones, which determines an element's chemical properties and position on the periodic table.