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Ground State

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What is Ground State?

The ground state is the lowest energy state of an atom, molecule, or quantum mechanical system. In the ground state, electrons occupy the lowest available orbitals according to the Aufbau principle. Energy must be absorbed to promote the system to an excited state. The ground state is the most stable configuration and the reference point for calculating energy changes.

Key Facts

Term Ground State

Frequently Asked Questions

The ground state is the lowest energy state of an atom, molecule, or quantum mechanical system. In the ground state, electrons occupy the lowest available orbitals according to the Aufbau principle. Energy must be absorbed to promote the system to an excited state. The ground state is the most stable configuration and the reference point for calculating energy changes.

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