Study Guide
Content Outline for Physical Sciences Section of the MCAT
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND PERIODIC TABLE
A. Electronic Structure
1. Orbital structure of hydrogen atom, principal quantum number n, number of electrons per orbital
2. Ground state, excited states
3. Absorption and emission spectra
4. Quantum numbers l, m, s, and number of electrons per orbital
5. Common names and geometric shapes for orbitals s, p, d
6. Conventional notation for electronic structure
7. Bohr atom
8. Effective nuclear charge
B. The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements into Groups by Electronic Structure; Physical
and Chemical Properties of Elements
1. Alkali metals
2. Alkaline earth metals
3. Halogens
4. Noble gases
5. Transition metals
6. Representative elements
7. Metals and nonmetals
8. Oxygen group
C. The Periodic Table: Variations of Chemical Properties with Group and Row
1. Electronic structure
a. representative elements
b. noble gases
c. transition metals
2. Valence electrons
3. First and second ionization energies
a. definition
b. prediction from electronic structure for elements in different groups or rows
4. Electron affinity
a. definition
b. variations with group and row
5. Electronegativity
a. definition
b. comparative values for some representative elements and important groups
6. Electron shells and the sizes of atoms
Content Outline for Physical Sciences Section of the MCAT
© 2013 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 2
BONDING
A. The Ionic Bond (Electrostatic Forces Between Ions)
1. Electrostatic energy q1q2/r
2. Electrostatic energy lattice energy
3. Electrostatic force q1q2/r
2
B. The Covalent Bond
1. Sigma and pi bonds
a. hybrid orbitals (sp3
, sp2
, sp, and respective geometries)
b. valence shell
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND PERIODIC TABLE
A. Electronic Structure
1. Orbital structure of hydrogen atom, principal quantum number n, number of electrons per orbital
2. Ground state, excited states
3. Absorption and emission spectra
4. Quantum numbers l, m, s, and number of electrons per orbital
5. Common names and geometric shapes for orbitals s, p, d
6. Conventional notation for electronic structure
7. Bohr atom
8. Effective nuclear charge
B. The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements into Groups by Electronic Structure; Physical
and Chemical Properties of Elements
1. Alkali metals
2. Alkaline earth metals
3. Halogens
4. Noble gases
5. Transition metals
6. Representative elements
7. Metals and nonmetals
8. Oxygen group
C. The Periodic Table: Variations of Chemical Properties with Group and Row
1. Electronic structure
a. representative elements
b. noble gases
c. transition metals
2. Valence electrons
3. First and second ionization energies
a. definition
b. prediction from electronic structure for elements in different groups or rows
4. Electron affinity
a. definition
b. variations with group and row
5. Electronegativity
a. definition
b. comparative values for some representative elements and important groups
6. Electron shells and the sizes of atoms
Content Outline for Physical Sciences Section of the MCAT
© 2013 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 2
BONDING
A. The Ionic Bond (Electrostatic Forces Between Ions)
1. Electrostatic energy q1q2/r
2. Electrostatic energy lattice energy
3. Electrostatic force q1q2/r
2
B. The Covalent Bond
1. Sigma and pi bonds
a. hybrid orbitals (sp3
, sp2
, sp, and respective geometries)
b. valence shell