QuizMultiple Choice

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Question 24 • Chemistry

Which diagram shows electrons violating the Pauli exclusion principle?

Answer

Image with description Three identical boxes, each containing an upward-pointing arrow and a downward-pointing arrow.

Image with description hree identical boxes, each containing a single upward-pointing arrow.

Image with description Three boxes arranged horizontally. The first box contains one upward-pointing arrow and one downward-pointing arrow. The second and third boxes each contain two upward-pointing arrows.

Image with description Three boxes arranged horizontally. The first two boxes each contain one upward-pointing arrow and one downward-pointing arrow. The third box contains a single upward-pointing arrow.

Explanation

The Pauli exclusion principle says that two electrons in the same orbital must have opposite spins. In choice A, the second and third boxes each show two upward-pointing arrows, meaning two electrons in the same orbital have the same spin. That violates the principle. The paired arrows in the other boxes are opposite in spin, so they do not show this violation.

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