What is the electronic configuration? How are they written?

Contributed by:
kevin
electronic configuration, also called electronic structure, is the arrangement of electrons in energy levels around an atomic nucleus. In terms of a more refined, quantum-mechanical model, the K–Q shells are subdivided into a set of orbitals (see orbital), each of which can be occupied by no more than a pair of electrons.
1. 1A group # = # valence (outside) e- 8A
1 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A
2
Row 3 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 8B 8B 1B 2B
= 4
# shells
5
6
s d p
7
f
6
7
2. Electron Configuration
1s 1
group #
row #
# valence e-
shell #
possibilities are:
possibilities are 1-7
s: 1 or 2
7 rows
subshell p: 1-6
possibilities are d: 1-10
s, p, d, or f f: 1-14
4 subshells Total e- should equal
Atomic #
What element has an electron configuration of 1s1?
3. Practice:
Ask these questions every time you have to write an
electron configuration
• Lithium:
1. find the element on the periodic table atomic # = 3
2. what is the period number? 2
3. how many shells? 2
4. what is the group number? 1
5. how many valence electrons? 1
6. what subshell(s) does Li have? s
7. what is the electron configuration? 1s2 2s1
4. Practice:
Ask these questions every time you have to write an
electron configuration
• Boron:
1. find the element on the periodic table atomic # = 5
2. what is the row #? 2
3. how many shells? 2
4. what is the group #? 3
5. how many valence electrons? 3
6. what subshell(s) does B have? p
7. what is the electron configuration? 1s2 2s2 2p1
5. Order of Electron Subshell Filling:
It does not go “in order”
1s2
2s2 2p6
3s2 3p6 3d10
4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14
5s2 5p6 5d10 5f14
6s2 6p6 6d10
7s2 7p6
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p6
6. Subshells d and f are “special”
1A group # = # valence e- 8A
1 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A
period # = # e- shells
2
3 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 8B 8B 1B 2B
4 3d
5
6
4d
5d
d
7 6d
f
6 4f
7 5f
7. Electron Configuration
1s 1
group #
row #
# valence e-
shell #
possibilities are:
possibilities are 1-7
s: 1 or 2
7 rows
subshell p: 1-6
possibilities are d: 1-10
s, p, d, or f f: 1-14
4 subshells Total e- should equal
Atomic #
What element has an electron configuration of 1s1?
8. Practice:
Ask these questions every time you have to write an
electron configuration
• Lithium:
1. find the element on the periodic table
2. what is the row #?
3. how many shells?
4. what is the group #?
5. how many valence electrons?
6. what subshell(s) does Li have?
7. what is the electron configuration?
9. Practice:
Ask these questions every time you have to write an
electron configuration
• Boron:
1. find the element on the periodic table
2. what is the row #?
3. how many shells?
4. what is the group #?
5. how many valence electrons?
6. what subshell(s) does B have?
7. what is the electron configuration?
10. Order of Electron Subshell Filling:
It does not go “in order”
1s2
2s2 2p6
3s2 3p6 3d10
4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14
5s2 5p6 5d10 5f14
6s2 6p6 6d10
7s2 7p6