How to Write Electron Configurations for Atoms of Any

Element
Two Methods: Assigning Electrons Using a Periodic Table Using an ADOMAH Periodic Table

An atom's electron configuration is a numeric representation of its electron orbitals. Electron orbitals are differently-shaped
regions around an atom's nucleus where electrons are mathematically likely to be located. An electron configuration can
quickly and simply tell a reader how many electron orbitals an atom has as well as the number of electrons populating each of
its orbitals. Once you understand the basic principles behind electron configuration, you will be able to write your own
configurations and tackle those chemistry tests with confidence.

Method
Assigning Electrons Using a Periodic Table
1

1 Find your atom's atomic number. Each atom has a specific number of electrons associated with it.
Locate your atom's chemical symbol on the periodic table. The atomic number is a positive integer
beginning at 1 (for hydrogen) and increasing by 1 for each subsequent atom. The atom's atomic number is the
number of protons of the atom - thus, it is also the number of electrons in an atom with zero charge.

2 Determine the charge of the atom. Uncharged atoms will have exactly the number of electrons as is
represented on the periodic table. However, charged atoms (ions) will have a higher or lower number of
electrons based on the magnitude of their charge. If you're working with a charged atom, add or subtract
electrons accordingly: add one electron for each negative charge and subtract one for each positive charge.
For instance, a sodium atom with a +1 charge would have an electron taken away from its basic atomic
number of 11. So, the sodium atom would have 10 electrons in total.

3 Memorize the basic list of orbitals. As an atom gains electrons, they fill different orbitals sets according
to a specific order. Each set of orbitals, when full, contains an even number of electrons. The orbital sets
are:
The s orbital set (any number in the electron configuration followed by an "s") contains a single orbital,
and by Pauli's Exclusion Principle, a single orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, so each s orbital
set can hold 2 electrons.
The p orbital set contains 3 orbitals, and thus can hold a total of 6 electrons.
The d orbital set contains 5 orbitals, so it can hold 10 electrons.
The f orbital set contains 7 orbitals, so it can hold 14 electrons.

Remember the order of the letters with this mnemonic:[1]

Sober Physicists Don't Find Giraffes Hiding In Kitchens.

For atoms with even more electrons, the orbitals continue alphabetically past
K, skipping letters already used.

4 Understand electron configuration notation. Electron configurations are written so as to clearly display
the number of electrons in the atom as well as the number of electrons in each orbital. Each orbital is
written in sequence, with the number of electrons in each orbital written in superscript to the right of the orbital
name. The final electron configuration is a single string of orbital names and superscripts.
For example, here is a simple electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6. This configuration shows that there
are two electrons in the 1s orbital set, two electrons in the 2s orbital set, and six electrons in the 2p
 orbital set. 2 + 2 + 6 = 10 electrons total. This electron configuration is for an uncharged neon atom
(neon's atomic number is 10.)

5 Memorize the order of the orbitals. Note that orbital sets are numbered by electron shell, but ordered in
terms of energy. For instance, a filled 4s2 is lower energy (or less potentially volatile) than a partially-filled
or filled 3d10, so the 4s shell is listed first. Once you know the order of orbitals, you can simply fill them
according to the number of electrons in the atom. The order for filling orbitals is as follows: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p,
4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p, 8s.
An electron configuration for an atom with every orbital completely filled would be written: 1s2 2s2 2p6
3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d107p6
Note that the above list, if all the shells were filled, would be the electron configuration for Og
(Oganesson), 118, the highest-numbered atom on the periodic table - so this electron configuration
contains every currently known electron shell for a neutrally charged atom.

6 Fill in the orbitals according to the number of electrons in your atom. For instance, if we want to write
an electron configuration for an uncharged calcium atom, we'll begin by finding its atomic number on the
periodic table. Its atomic number is 20, so we'll write a configuration for an atom with 20 electrons according to
the order above.
Fill up orbitals according to the order above until you reach twenty total electrons. The 1s orbital gets
two electrons, the 2s gets two, the 2p gets six, the 3s gets two, the 3p gets 6, and the 4s gets 2 (2 + 2 +
6 +2 +6 + 2 = 20.) Thus, the electron configuration for calcium is: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2.
Note: Energy level changes as you go up. For example, when you are about to go up to the 4th energy
level, it becomes 4s first, then 3d. After the fourth energy level, you'll move onto the 5th where it follows
the order once again. This only happens after the 3rd energy level.

7 Use the periodic table as a visual shortcut. You may have already noticed that the shape of the periodic
table corresponds to the order of orbital sets in electron configurations. For example, atoms in the second
column from the left always end in "s2", atoms at the far right of the skinny middle portion always end in "d10,"
etc. Use the periodic table as a visual guide to write configurations - the order that you add electrons to orbitals
corresponds to your position in the table. See below:
Specifically, the two leftmost columns represent atoms whose electron configurations end in s orbitals,
the right block of the table represents atoms whose configurations end in p orbitals, the middle portion,
atoms that end in d orbital, and the bottom portion, atoms that end in f orbitals.
For example, when writing an electron configuration for Chlorine, think: "This atom is in third row (or
"period") of the periodic table. It's also in the fifth column of the periodic table's p orbital block. Thus, its
electron configuration will end ...3p5
Caution - the d and f orbital regions of the table correspond to energy levels that are different than the
period they're located in. For instance, the first row of the d orbital block corresponds to the 3d orbital
even though it's in period 4, while the first row of the f orbital corresponds to the 4f orbital even though
it's in period 6.

8 Learn shorthand for writing long electron configurations. The atoms along the right edge of the
periodic table are called noble gases. These elements are very chemically stable. To shorten the process
of writing a long electron configuration, simply write the chemical symbol of the nearest chemical gas with less
electrons than your atom in brackets, then continue with the electron configuration for the following orbital sets.
See below:
To understand this concept, it's useful to write an example configuration. Let's write a configuration for
zinc (atomic number 30) using noble gas shorthand. Zinc's full electron configuration is: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
3p6 4s2 3d10. However, notice that 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 is the configuration for Argon, a noble gas. Just
replace this portion of zinc's electron notation with Argon's chemical symbol in brackets ([Ar].)
So, zinc's electron configuration written in shorthand is [Ar]4s2 3d10.
 Note that if you are doing noble gas notation for, say, argon, you cannot put [Ar]! You have to use the
noble gas that comes before that element; for argon, that would be neon.

Method
Using an ADOMAH Periodic Table
2

1 Understand the ADOMAH Periodic Table. This method of writing electron configurations doesn't require
memorization. However, it does require a rearranged periodic table, because in traditional periodic table,
beginning with fourth row, period numbers do not correspond to the electron shells. Find an ADOMAH Periodic
Table, a special type of periodic table designed by scientist Valery Tsimmerman. It's easily found via a quick
online search.[2]
In the ADOMAH Periodic Table, horizontal rows represent groups of elements, such as halogens, inert
gases, alkali metals, alkaline earths, etc. Vertical columns correspond to electron shells and so called
“cascades” (diagonal lines connecting s,p,d and f blocks) correspond to periods.
Helium is moved next to Hydrogen, since both of them are characterized by the 1s orbital. Blocks of
periods (s,p,d and f) are shown on the right side and shell numbers are shown at the base. Elements
are presented in rectangular boxes that are numbered from 1 to 120. These numbers are normal atomic
numbers that represent total number of electrons in a neutral atom.

2 Find your atom in the ADOMAH table. To write electron configuration of an element, locate its symbol in
ADOMAH Periodic Table and cross out all elements that have higher atomic numbers. For example, if you
need to write electron configuration of Erbium (68), cross out elements 69 through 120.
Notice numbers 1 through 8 at the base of the table. These are electron shell numbers, or column
numbers. Ignore columns which contain only crossed out elements. For Erbium remaining columns are
1,2,3,4,5 and 6.

3 Count orbital sets up to your atom. Looking at the block symbols shown on the right side of the table (s,
p, d, and f) and at the column numbers shown at the base and ignoring diagonal lines between the blocks,
break up columns into column-blocks and list them in order from the bottom up. Again, ignore column blocks
where all elements are crossed out. Write down the column-blocks beginning with the column number followed
by the block symbol, like this: 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p 4d 4f 5s 5p 6s (in case of Erbium).
Note: The above electron configuration of Er is written in the order of ascending shell numbers. It could
also be written in the order of orbital filling. Just follow cascades from top to bottom instead of columns
when you write down the column-blocks: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f12.

4 Count electrons for each orbital set. Count elements that were not crossed out in each block-column,
assigning one electron per element, and write down their quantity next to the block symbols for each block-
column, like this: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f12 5s2 5p6 6s2. In our example, this is the electron
configuration of Erbium.

5 Know irregular electron configurations. There are eighteen common exceptions to electron
configurations for atoms in the lowest energy state, also called the ground state. They deviate from the
general rule only by last two-to-three electron positions. In these cases, the actual electron configuration keeps
the electrons in a lower-energy state than in a standard configuration for the atom. The irregular atoms are:
Cr (..., 3d5, 4s1); Cu (..., 3d10, 4s1); Nb (..., 4d4, 5s1); Mo (..., 4d5, 5s1); Ru (..., 4d7, 5s1); Rh (..., 4d8,
5s1); Pd (..., 4d10, 5s0); Ag (..., 4d10, 5s1); La (..., 5d1, 6s2); Ce (..., 4f1, 5d1, 6s2); Gd (..., 4f7, 5d1,
6s2); Au (..., 5d10, 6s1); Ac (..., 6d1, 7s2); Th (..., 6d2, 7s2); Pa (..., 5f2, 6d1, 7s2); U (..., 5f3, 6d1,
7s2); Np (..., 5f4, 6d1, 7s2) and Cm (..., 5f7, 6d1, 7s2).
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Community Q&A

What is the electron configuration of CH4?

CH4 isn't an atom, but a composite substance. You can only tell the electron configuration of an atom.
wikiHow Contributor
Not Helpful 40 Helpful 169

What is an electron configuration?

An electron configuration is the arrangement of electron of an atom or a molecule in an atomic or molecular

wikiHow Contributor orbital.
Not Helpful 31 Helpful 112

While writing EC, should 4s come before 3d?

When writing the EC, we consider the energy levels of the shells. 3d has higher energy level than 4s,
Eirina Khan therefore it will come after 4s. You need to memorize the order of orbitals according to the energy levels.
Not Helpful 29 Helpful 105

What is ionization energy?

Ionization energy is the quantity of energy that an isolated, gaseous atom in the ground electronic state must
wikiHow Contributor absorb to discharge an electron, resulting in a cation.
Not Helpful 20 Helpful 72

How is the electron configuration and order of electron addition the same for every element?

Because in every shell, no matter what atom, they all hold the same number of electrons.
 Not Helpful 9 Helpful 34

wikiHow Contributor
How do I put elements in electronic configuration using numbers?

You basically take the traditional boxed configuration and write it in numbers where the first number
wikiHow Contributor represents the energy level (i.e 1s^2 is the first energy level) and the superscript represents the number of
electrons in that energy level (in the previous example the "^2" means that there are 2 electrons in that energy
level).
Not Helpful 19 Helpful 60

Why is electron configuration required?

Because electron configuration gives the number of valence electrons, by which we can easily determine the
wikiHow Contributor chemical properties of an atom or ion or molecule or compound.
Not Helpful 19 Helpful 44

How do I write the electronic configurations of carbon?

The atomic number of carbon is 6. Hence, it's configuration is [He] 2s2 2p2. The expanded form is 1s^2 2s^2
wikiHow Contributor 2p^2.
Not Helpful 18 Helpful 41

Why is iron called Fe?

The Latin name of iron is ferrum.

wikiHow Contributor
Not Helpful 8 Helpful 21

What is the numerical representation of electronic configuration element of calcium?

1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2. You basically take the traditional, boxed configuration and write it in
wikiHow Contributor shorthand where the first number represents the energy level and the superscript represents the number of
electrons in that energy level (box).
Not Helpful 19 Helpful 40

Tips

When the atom is an ion, it means that the number of protons does not equal the number of electrons. The charge
of the atom will then be displayed at the top right (usually) corner of the chemical symbol. So, an antimony atom
with charge +2 has an electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p1. Notice that the 5p3
changed into a 5p1. Be careful when the configuration of an uncharged atom ends in anything but an s and p
orbital set. When you take away electrons, you can only take them away from the valence orbitals (the s and p
orbitals). So, if a configuration ends in 4s2 3d7, and the atom gains a charge of +2, then the configuration would
change to end with 4s0 3d7. Notice that 3d7does not change, instead, the s orbital electrons are lost.
Every atom desires to be stable, and the most stable configurations have full s and p (s2 and p6) orbital sets. The
noble gases have this configuration, which is why they are rarely reactive and are on the right side of the periodic
table. So, if a configuration ends in 3p4, it only needs two more electrons to become stable (losing six, including the
s orbital set's electrons, takes more energy, so losing four is easier). And if a configuration ends in 4d3, it only
needs to lose three electrons to reach a stable state. Also, half-filled shells (s1, p3, d5..) are more stable than, for
example, p4 or p2; however, s2 and p6 will be even more stable.
You can also write an element's electron configuration by just writing the valence configuration, which is the last s
and p orbital set. So, the valence configuration of an antimony atom would be 5s2 5p3.
Ions aren't the same. They're much harder. Skip two above levels of this article and follow the same pattern
depending on where you started depending on how high or how low the number of electrons is.
To find the atomic number of the atom when it is in electron configuration form, just add up all of the numbers that
follow the letters (s, p, d, and f). This only works if this is a neutral atom, if it is an ion, this does not work, and you
would have to add or subtract however many electrons were added or lost.
The number following the letter is actually superscript, so do not make that mistake on a test.
 There are two different ways to write electron configurations. They can be written in the order of ascending shell
numbers, or in the order of orbital filling, as presented above for Erbium.
There are circumstances when an electron needs to be "promoted." When an orbital set is one electron away from
being half occupied or completely occupied, remove one electron from the nearest s or p orbital set and move it to
the orbital set that needs the electron.
There is no such thing as the "stability of a half-filled" sublevel. It is an oversimplification. Any stability relating to
"half-filled" sub-levels is due to the fact that each orbital is singly occupied, thus electron-electron repulsions are
minimized.

Sources and Citations

1. https://www.mnemonic-device.com/chemistry/sober-physicists-dont-find-giraffes-hiding-in-kitchens/
2. http://www.meta-synthesis.com/webbook/35_pt/pt_database.php?PT_id=32