Do electrons go to even lower ground states after exothermic reactions?












1












$begingroup$


I am a bit confused about what happens to the energy levels during an exothermic reaction.



I understand that during an exothermic reaction, the energy of the electrons decreases.



Is the potential energy of electrons related to the energy level diagram, shown below?



enter image description here



So if the potential energy decreases, does that mean the ground state for the new molecules formed will be different from the old molecules?










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$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/114347/…
    $endgroup$
    – Karsten Theis
    2 hours ago
















1












$begingroup$


I am a bit confused about what happens to the energy levels during an exothermic reaction.



I understand that during an exothermic reaction, the energy of the electrons decreases.



Is the potential energy of electrons related to the energy level diagram, shown below?



enter image description here



So if the potential energy decreases, does that mean the ground state for the new molecules formed will be different from the old molecules?










share|improve this question







New contributor




Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/114347/…
    $endgroup$
    – Karsten Theis
    2 hours ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


I am a bit confused about what happens to the energy levels during an exothermic reaction.



I understand that during an exothermic reaction, the energy of the electrons decreases.



Is the potential energy of electrons related to the energy level diagram, shown below?



enter image description here



So if the potential energy decreases, does that mean the ground state for the new molecules formed will be different from the old molecules?










share|improve this question







New contributor




Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




I am a bit confused about what happens to the energy levels during an exothermic reaction.



I understand that during an exothermic reaction, the energy of the electrons decreases.



Is the potential energy of electrons related to the energy level diagram, shown below?



enter image description here



So if the potential energy decreases, does that mean the ground state for the new molecules formed will be different from the old molecules?







thermodynamics






share|improve this question







New contributor




Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question







New contributor




Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question






New contributor




Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 6 hours ago









Mason RileyMason Riley

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61




New contributor




Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Mason Riley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • $begingroup$
    Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/114347/…
    $endgroup$
    – Karsten Theis
    2 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/114347/…
    $endgroup$
    – Karsten Theis
    2 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/114347/…
$endgroup$
– Karsten Theis
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
Related: chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/114347/…
$endgroup$
– Karsten Theis
2 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















3












$begingroup$

Yes, electron energy levels are like that, especially for single atoms.



Yes, forming molecular bonds creates different electron energy levels, with exothermic reactions leading to chemical bonds with lower ground levels then the reagents had.



Much more info you can get reading about




  • molecular orbitals


  • molecular orbitals diagrams


  • molecular orbital theory



on Wikipedia.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
    $endgroup$
    – Mason Riley
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
    $endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    2 hours ago












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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









3












$begingroup$

Yes, electron energy levels are like that, especially for single atoms.



Yes, forming molecular bonds creates different electron energy levels, with exothermic reactions leading to chemical bonds with lower ground levels then the reagents had.



Much more info you can get reading about




  • molecular orbitals


  • molecular orbitals diagrams


  • molecular orbital theory



on Wikipedia.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
    $endgroup$
    – Mason Riley
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
    $endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    2 hours ago
















3












$begingroup$

Yes, electron energy levels are like that, especially for single atoms.



Yes, forming molecular bonds creates different electron energy levels, with exothermic reactions leading to chemical bonds with lower ground levels then the reagents had.



Much more info you can get reading about




  • molecular orbitals


  • molecular orbitals diagrams


  • molecular orbital theory



on Wikipedia.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
    $endgroup$
    – Mason Riley
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
    $endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    2 hours ago














3












3








3





$begingroup$

Yes, electron energy levels are like that, especially for single atoms.



Yes, forming molecular bonds creates different electron energy levels, with exothermic reactions leading to chemical bonds with lower ground levels then the reagents had.



Much more info you can get reading about




  • molecular orbitals


  • molecular orbitals diagrams


  • molecular orbital theory



on Wikipedia.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$



Yes, electron energy levels are like that, especially for single atoms.



Yes, forming molecular bonds creates different electron energy levels, with exothermic reactions leading to chemical bonds with lower ground levels then the reagents had.



Much more info you can get reading about




  • molecular orbitals


  • molecular orbitals diagrams


  • molecular orbital theory



on Wikipedia.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 6 hours ago









PoutnikPoutnik

1,599311




1,599311












  • $begingroup$
    So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
    $endgroup$
    – Mason Riley
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
    $endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    2 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
    $endgroup$
    – Mason Riley
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
    $endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    2 hours ago
















$begingroup$
So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
$endgroup$
– Mason Riley
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
So when the exothermic reaction finishes, will the electrons end up at the ground energy level?
$endgroup$
– Mason Riley
3 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
$endgroup$
– Poutnik
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
Usually yes, even if sometimes they can even temporarily stay excited.
$endgroup$
– Poutnik
2 hours ago










Mason Riley is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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