Which of the following electronic configurations is correct according to Hund’s rule?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

DSSSB PGT Chemistry (Female) Official Paper (Held On: 06 Jul, 2018 Shift 1)

Answer 1

CONCEPT:

Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity

Hund's Rule states that electrons occupy all the degenerate (same energy) orbitals singly before pairing begins.
This minimizes electron–electron repulsion and maximizes total spin, which is more stable.
All singly occupied orbitals must have electrons with parallel spins (same direction).

EXPLANATION:

In the image, the question is about identifying which configuration follows Hund's Rule correctly.

Option 1: Electrons are paired before all orbitals are singly filled → Violates Hund's Rule.
Option 2: All orbitals are singly occupied, but with different spins → Violates Hund's Rule.
Option 3: First orbital has two electrons, second and third have one → Not the lowest energy configuration.
Option 4: All three degenerate orbitals are singly occupied with parallel spins → Correct as per Hund's Rule

Therefore, the correct electronic configuration according to Hund's Rule is:
Option 4