Ground state

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-005036",
  "term": "Ground state",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The stationary state of lowest energy for a chemical entity, such as an atom, molecule, or ion. In this state, the electrons occupy the lowest possible energy levels or orbitals consistent with the Pauli exclusion principle and other quantum mechanical rules. An entity can move from the ground state to a higher-energy excited state by absorbing a quantum of energy, for example, a photon of a specific frequency.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "Gibbs energy",
    "excited state"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1118 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/ground-state/"
}