What's the difference between ground state and excited state in chemistry?
In chemistry, the ground state and excited state refer to the two possible energy levels that an atom or molecule can exist in.
Ground state:
- The ground state is the lowest energy state that an atom or molecule can occupy.
- In this state, all the electrons are in their lowest possible energy levels and are filled according to the rules of electron configuration.
- The ground state is the most stable state and is the state that atoms and molecules naturally tend to exist in.
Excited state:
- The excited state is a higher energy state that an atom or molecule can occupy.
- In this state, one or more electrons have been promoted to a higher energy level by absorbing energy, such as heat or light.
- The excited state is less stable than the ground state and is a temporary state that atoms and molecules can exist in when they have absorbed energy.
Overall, the main difference between ground state and excited state in chemistry is the energy level that an atom or molecule is in, with ground state being the lowest energy state and excited state being a higher energy state that is less stable.