Calculation of Number of Microstates
The configuration of atoms or ions or molecules is not a complete description of arrangement of electrons in a sub shell of an atom. In a given configuration, the electrons are arranged in many different way which have slightly different energy. These different arrangements are called microstates.
Microstates are determined by following different ways.
1. From electronic configuration of single sub-shell
2. From electronic configuration of two different sub-shell
3. From the term symbol without L-S coupling (J)
4. From the term symbol with L-S coupling (J)
Where N = Twice the number of orbitals in the sub shell = 2(2l + 1)
X = number of electrons in the given configuration
N! and X! are the factorials of N and X respectively.
No. of microstates:
No. of microstates:
No. of microstates:
Examples-
Number of Microstates of p2 configuration-
p2 configuration has two electrons.
So, X = 2.
Since the number of orbitals in p sub-shell = 3
So, N = 2 x 3 = 6
Now from formula-
CSIR NET/JRF June 2012Number of Microstates of d5 system-
Number of Microstates of d5 system = 252
15 microstates indicates that there are 15 ways in which electrons can be arranged.
Similarly,
for d1 configuration, the number of microstates is 10.
for d2 configuration,the number of microstates is 45.
Example-
Number of microstates of p1d1 Configuration
For p1 term, N = 2 x 3 = 6 and X = 1
For d1 term, N = 2 x 5 = 10 and X = 1
CSIR NET/JRF December 2012Q. One of the excited state of Ti has the electronic configuration [Ar]4s23d14p1. The number of microstate with zero total spin (s) for this configuration is-
Answer: B. 15
Hence, it can be calculated by the equation (2S+1) (2L+1)
Example-
Number of microstates of 2D
For 2D term, (2S + 1) is 2 and L is 2 So, number of Microstates of 2D term symbol-
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = 2 (2 x 2 + 1) = 10
Number of microstates of 3F
For 3F term, (2S + 1) is 3 and L is 3 So, number of Microstates of 3F term symbol-
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = 3 (2 x 3 + 1) = 21
Number of microstates in 3P term-
(2S + 1) = 3 and L = 1
or, (2S + 1) (2L + 1) = (3) (2 x 1 + 1) = 9
Number of microstates in 1D term-
(2S + 1) = 1 and L = 2
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = (1) (2 x 2 + 1) = 5
Number of microstates in 1S term-
(2S+1) = 1 and L = 0
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = (1) (2x0 + 1) = 1
Hence, total number of microstates in p2 configuration = 9 + 5 + 1 = 15
Example-
To calculate microstates of 2P4
For 2P4 term-
J is 4
So, Microstates of 2P4 term symbol-
(2J + 1) = (2 x 4 + 1) = 9
Microstates are determined by following different ways.
1. From electronic configuration of single sub-shell
2. From electronic configuration of two different sub-shell
3. From the term symbol without L-S coupling (J)
4. From the term symbol with L-S coupling (J)
Determine the microstates from electronic configuration of single sub-shell
The total number of possible arrangements of given number of electrons are the microstates of that electronic configuration.Where N = Twice the number of orbitals in the sub shell = 2(2l + 1)
X = number of electrons in the given configuration
N! and X! are the factorials of N and X respectively.
Number of Microstates of p-System
No. of microstates:
Number of Microstates of d-System
No. of microstates:
Number of Microstates of f-System
No. of microstates:
Examples-
Number of Microstates of p2 configuration-
p2 configuration has two electrons.
So, X = 2.
Since the number of orbitals in p sub-shell = 3
So, N = 2 x 3 = 6
Now from formula-
CSIR NET/JRF June 2012Number of Microstates of d5 system-
Number of Microstates of d5 system = 252
15 microstates indicates that there are 15 ways in which electrons can be arranged.
Similarly,
for d1 configuration, the number of microstates is 10.
for d2 configuration,the number of microstates is 45.
Determine the microstates from electronic configuration of two different sub-shell
It can be calculated by multiplying microstate of one sub-shell to other sub-shellExample-
Number of microstates of p1d1 Configuration
For p1 term, N = 2 x 3 = 6 and X = 1
For d1 term, N = 2 x 5 = 10 and X = 1
CSIR NET/JRF December 2012
Q. One of the excited state of Ti has the electronic configuration [Ar]4s23d14p1. The number of microstate with zero total spin (s) for this configuration is-
A. 9
B. 15
C. 27
D. 60
Answer: B. 15Determine the microstates from the term symbol without L-S coupling (J)
Number of microstates is equal to the product of spin energy level (2S+1) and orbital energy level (2L+1) of the term.Hence, it can be calculated by the equation (2S+1) (2L+1)
Example-
Number of microstates of 2D
For 2D term, (2S + 1) is 2 and L is 2 So, number of Microstates of 2D term symbol-
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = 2 (2 x 2 + 1) = 10
Number of microstates of 3F
For 3F term, (2S + 1) is 3 and L is 3 So, number of Microstates of 3F term symbol-
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = 3 (2 x 3 + 1) = 21
determine the number of microstates in term symbol of p2 configuration
3P, 1D and 1S are the term symbol of p2 configuration.Number of microstates in 3P term-
(2S + 1) = 3 and L = 1
or, (2S + 1) (2L + 1) = (3) (2 x 1 + 1) = 9
Number of microstates in 1D term-
(2S + 1) = 1 and L = 2
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = (1) (2 x 2 + 1) = 5
Number of microstates in 1S term-
(2S+1) = 1 and L = 0
(2S + 1) (2L + 1) = (1) (2x0 + 1) = 1
Hence, total number of microstates in p2 configuration = 9 + 5 + 1 = 15
Determine the microstates from the term symbol with L-S coupling (J)
It can be calculated by the equation (2J + 1)Example-
To calculate microstates of 2P4
For 2P4 term-
J is 4
So, Microstates of 2P4 term symbol-
(2J + 1) = (2 x 4 + 1) = 9
