Questions: The effective nuclear charge of an atom is primarily affected by outer electrons orbital radial probability inner electrons electron distribution nuclear charge

The effective nuclear charge of an atom is primarily affected by
outer electrons
orbital radial probability
inner electrons
electron distribution
nuclear charge

Transcript text: The effective nuclear charge of an atom is primarily affected by outer electrons orbital radial probability inner electrons electron distribution nuclear charge

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding Effective Nuclear Charge

The effective nuclear charge (\(Z_{\text{eff}}\)) is the net positive charge experienced by an electron in a multi-electron atom. It accounts for the actual nuclear charge (\(Z\)) minus the shielding effect caused by inner electrons.

Step 2: Identifying the Primary Affecting Factor

The primary factor affecting the effective nuclear charge is the shielding effect. Inner electrons shield the outer electrons from the full charge of the nucleus, reducing the effective nuclear charge felt by the outer electrons.

Step 3: Analyzing the Options

Outer electrons: These are affected by the effective nuclear charge but do not primarily affect it.
Orbital radial probability: This describes the likelihood of finding an electron at a certain distance from the nucleus but does not directly affect \(Z_{\text{eff}}\).
Inner electrons: These provide the shielding effect, thus primarily affecting \(Z_{\text{eff}}\).
Electron distribution: This is related to the arrangement of electrons but is not the primary factor.
Nuclear charge: This is the total charge of the nucleus but does not account for the shielding effect.