What is difference between an atom in its ground state and an atom in its excited state,given that the numbers of protons,neutrons and electrons in both situations are the same?

1 Answer
Apr 11, 2018

Explanation:

When an atom is excited, it means that it has gained energy, and usually, it'll use that energy to change its electron configuration, with examples such as one of its #3p# electrons might go to the #4s# orbital or something like that.

For example, aluminium's normal electron configuration is #[Ne]3s^13p^1#, but in its excited state, it loses that #3p# electron, and the overall configuration becomes #[Ne]3s^14p^1#.

Source:

https://socratic.org/questions/electronic-configration-of-alminum-in-excited-stated