Twenty electronic

CC4c.1 configurations

Name Class Date

1 The atomic number of hydrogen is 1, so its atoms each have one proton (and so one
electron). This means that the electronic configuration of hydrogen is 1 and the
electron can be drawn as a dot or cross on the circle representing a shell.
On the diagram on the right:
a write the electronic configuration in the blank space after ‘structure =’
b add the electron on the dashed circle as a cross.

2 The diagram below contains incomplete information about 19 other elements.

The written electronic configuration for lithium is given (atomic number, Z = 3, structure = 2.1).
Work out the electronic configurations for the other 18 elements, and write down their structures.

3 The electronic configuration diagram for lithium has been done for you. Each electron is shown as a cross.
Use your answers to question 2 to help you to draw the electron configurations of the other 18 elements.

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 Working out electronic
CC4c.2 configurations – Strengthen

Name Class Date

1 What name is used to describe the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus of an atom?

2 Complete this table to show the number of electrons in each atom.

Element Li O Al Ar
Atomic number 3 8 13 18
Number of electrons

3 The atomic number of nitrogen is 7, so nitrogen atoms contain 7 protons (and so 7 electrons). The
electronic configuration of nitrogen is 2.5 (two electrons in the first shell and five in the outer shell).
Use your answers to question 2 to help you complete this table.

Element Li O Al Ar
Electronic configuration

4 The diagram on the right shows the electronic configuration of nitrogen.

Use your answers to question 3 to draw the electronic configurations of lithium and
aluminium in the space below.
Show each electron as a cross. The correct number of shells have already been
drawn for you.

5 In the space below, draw the electronic configurations of oxygen and argon.

S1 How do you work out the electronic configuration of an element?

6 Describe the link between the group number and the number of electrons in the outer shell, and the period
number and the number of occupied shells. You may need to use a periodic table to help you.

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 Electronic configurations
CC4c.3 Homework 1

Name Class Date

Use this short form periodic table to help you answer the questions. It shows symbols and atomic numbers.

group numbers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

H
1 1 He
2
period numbers

Li Be B C N O F Ne
2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
3
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
K Ca
4
19 20

1 State what is meant by the term ‘electronic configuration’.

2 Write the electronic configurations for the following elements:

a helium

b carbon

c oxygen

d chlorine

e calcium
sulfur
3 In the box on the right, draw the electronic configuration for sulfur.
4 The table below shows the electronic configurations for three different elements.

Element lithium sodium potassium

Electronic configuration 2.1 2.8.1 2.8.8.1

In terms of their electronic configurations, explain which group these elements belong to.

5 The table below shows the electronic configurations for four different elements.

Element lithium beryllium nitrogen neon

Electronic configuration 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.8

In terms of their electronic configurations, explain which period these elements belong to.

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 Configurations and the
CC4c.4 periodic table – Homework 2
Use this short form periodic table to help you answer the questions. It shows symbols and atomic numbers.

group numbers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

H
1 1 He
2
period numbers

Li Be B C N O F Ne
2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
3
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
K Ca
4
19 20

1 State what is meant by the term ‘electronic configuration’.

2 Write the electronic configurations for helium, carbon, oxygen, chlorine and calcium.
3 Draw the electronic configurations for nitrogen and argon.
4 The electronic configuration of an element is related to its position in the periodic table.
a Explain how the group in which an element is placed is related to its electronic configuration. In your
answer, refer to the elements in groups 1 and 0.
b Explain how the period in which an element is placed is related to its electronic configuration. In your
answer, refer to the elements in period 2.
5 After calcium, the third shell can contain up to 18 electrons. An element, which we will call X, is placed
after calcium in the periodic table. Element X has the electronic configuration 2.8.18.7.
Use your knowledge and understanding of atomic structure, and the relationship between the electronic
configuration of an element and its position in the periodic table, to answer the following questions.
a Explain which group element X is placed in.
b Explain which period element X is placed in.
c Calculate the atomic number of element X, showing clearly how you obtained your answer.
d Atoms of element X exist as two naturally occurring isotopes. One has 44 neutrons in its nucleus and
the other has 46 neutrons in its nucleus.
Write the full chemical symbols for these two isotopes.

Extra challenge
6 In reactions, metal atoms can lose electrons and non-metal atoms can gain electrons. When this happens,
charged particles called ‘ions’ form. Enough electrons are lost or gained so that the ion has the same
electronic configuration as the nearest element in group 0.
For example:
● Sodium atoms (2.8.1) lose one electron to become sodium ions (2.8) – the same electronic
configuration as neon in group 0.
● Sulfur atoms (2.8.6) gain two electrons to become sulfide ions (2.8.8) – the same electronic
configuration as argon in group 0.
a Work out how many electrons each atom in period 2 (Li to F) must lose or gain to obtain the same
electronic configuration as the nearest group 0 element.
b Describe how carbon and other elements in group 4 are unusual in the way they can form ions.

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 CC4c Progression Check
Name Class Date
Progression questions
Answer these questions.
1 What information does an electronic configuration give?

2 How do you work out and show the electronic configuration of an element?

3 How is the electronic configuration of an element related to its position in the periodic table?

Now circle the faces in the ‘Start’ row in the table showing how confident you are of your answers.

Question 1 2 3

Start

Assessment
Using a different colour, correct or add to your answers above. You may need to use the back of this sheet or
another piece of paper. Then circle the faces in the ‘Check’ row in the table.

Question 1 2 3

Check

Feedback
What will you do next? Tick one box.

 strengthen my learning  strengthen then extend  extend

Note down any specific areas you need to improve.

Action
You may now be given another activity. After this, note down any remaining areas you need to improve and
how you will try to improve in these areas.

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