It is essential to know the structure of the atom and the electrons each atom holds. To know these, scientists have developed a concept that is linked to both atomic physics and quantum chemistry known as electron configuration.
Electron configuration clearly explains how electrons are distributed in its atomic orbitals. Electronic configurations of elements are used to represent the types of chemical bonds formed by the element. The Electron configuration of an atom is the numerical representation of the organization of electrons spread in the orbitals of the atom. This type of representation displays the position of an element in the periodic table and explains its chemical action. It illustrates how meticulously atoms are held together in a chemical bond. Electronic configurations also clearly show the way in which each electron moves in an orbital, in the field created by all other orbitals.
Electron configuration is mainly useful in understanding the structure of different atoms in the periodic table of elements. Under the Bohr model of the atom concept, electron configuration was first comprehended. It explained the shells and subshells of the atom along with the distribution of electrons.
Let us know the conduction of heat in a material by studying the thermal conductivity.
Can Any Materials Transfer Heat?
To know the answer to the above question we should first understand what is thermal conductivity?
Thermal conductivity is defined as the capacity of a given material to conduct or transfer heat through it. All materials can conduct heat, as per the range of thermal conductivity they exhibit. Materials which exhibit lower conductivity shows low heat absorption capacity than the materials which exhibit higher conductivity. It is expressed by the alphabet k’ but and can also be denoted by ‘λ’ and ‘κ’.
The reciprocal of this Thermal conductivity is known as thermal resistivity. Materials with high thermal conductivity are used in heat sinks whereas materials with low Thermal conductivity are used as thermal insulators.
According to Fourier’s law of thermal conduction, it states that the rate at which heat is transferred through a material is directly proportional to the negative of the temperature gradient and the area through which the heat flows. The law is represented as formula below:
q = -k.∇T
Heat Flux = -k * (Temperature2 – Temperature1)/Thickness
Fourier’s law of thermal conduction is also known as the law of heat conduction.
For further information on the method of writing the electron configuration of the given element and to know about shells and subshells, refer BYJU’S YouTube Channel!!
Featured image source: Freepik
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