Ground State

The ground state refers to the lowest energy condition of an atom or particle, where it naturally exists when not influenced by external energy. Imagine a ball resting at the bottom of a valley—this is its most stable and least energetic position. In atoms, electrons occupy the ground state to minimize energy. When energy is added, electrons can jump to higher energy levels, known as excited states, but they tend to return to the ground state, releasing energy in the process. Understanding the ground state is fundamental to studying atomic behavior and chemical reactions.