Electron

Configurations,
Isoelectronic
Elements, & Ionization
Reactions
Chemistry 11
 Note:

Of the 3 subatomic particles, the electron
plays the greatest role in determining the
physical and chemical properties of an
element.

There is a relationship between the electron
configuration of elements and their
arrangement in the table.
 Elements are Classified into 4
Categories:

Noble Gases are elements in which the
outermost s and p sublevels are filled.

They are also called inert gases because they do
not participate in many chemical reactions.

Argon (Ar) 1s22s22p63s23p6

Neon (Ne) 1s22s22p6
 Representative Elements

Also known as Main Group Elements

Are elements whose outermost s or p
sublevels are only partially filled.

Sodium (Na) 1s22s22p63s1

Silicon (Si) 1s22s22p63s23p2
 Inner Transition Metals

The Actinides & Lanthanides

Are elements whose outermost s sublevel
and the nearby f sublevel generally contain
electrons.

Gadolinium (Gd)
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f8
 Transition Elements

Are elements whose outermost s sublevel and
nearby d sublevel contain electrons.

Iron (Fe) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d6
 Transition Metals

Do not form ions with noble gas configurations

If they did, they would have to lose 4 or more
electrons, and the energy needed to do this would
be too high.

These metals do form cations (“+” charged ion)
with more than one charge (multi-valent)

Electrons are first moved from the outer “s” and
then inner “d” sublevels.
 Example 1:

25Mn (18Ar)4s23d5

Mn2+ loses 2 electrons from the “s”
sublevel

Mn2+ (18Ar)4s03d5
 Example 2:

26Fe (18Ar)4s23d6

Fe2+ loses 2 electrons from the “s”
sublevel

Fe2+ (18Ar)4s03d6

Fe3+ (18Ar)4s03d5
 Valence Electrons

Are the electrons in the highest occupied
energy level of an element’s atom.

Are usually the only electrons used in the
formation of chemical bonds.
 Valence Electrons
Note:

Many of the similar chemical properties of
elements in the same group (vertical column)
are related to the Σnumber of “s” and “p”
electrons in the highest occupied energy level.

These electrons are valence electrons.
 Example 1: Sodium

11Na

1s22s22p63s1

Highest energy level = 3

Single “s” electron

No “p” electrons for this element

∴Na has 1 valence electron
 Example 2: Phosphorus

15P

1s22s22p63s2 3p3

Highest energy level = 3

Two “s” electrons

Three “p” electrons

∴5 valence electrons
 Example 3: Potassium

19K

Electron Configurations

1s22s22p63s2 3p6 4s1

Highest energy level = 4

∴1 valence electron
 Example 4: Carbon

6C

Electron Configuration

1s22s22p2

Highest energy level = 2

∴4 valence electrons
 Example 5: Magnesium

12Mg

Electron Configuration

1s22s22p63s2

Highest energy level = 3

∴2 valence electrons
 Example 6: Oxygen

8O

Electron Configuration

1s22s22p4

Highest energy level = 2

∴6 valence electrons
 Answers
1. On the sketch of the Periodic Table, label:
a) the periods
b) the group numbers
c) colour the “s block” elements (red)
d) colour the “p block” elements (blue)
e) colour the “d block” elements (green)
f) colour the “f block” elements (yellow)
 Question 2
Read the following electron configurations to
determine the identities of the following elements:
a) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2
b) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
c) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f
5d10 6p6
d) 1s2 2s2 2p2
e) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p5
 Question 3
Write ionization reactions for the following elements:
a) N is a non-metal, so it will gain electrons. It needs
3 more electrons to become as stable as a Noble
Gas, so it will gain three electrons. Show gained
electrons on the left-hand side of the arrow.
 Question 3
b) Sc is a metal, so it will lose electrons. It needs to
lose 3 electrons to become as stable as a Noble Gas.
Show lost electrons on the right-hand side of the
arrow.
 Question 3
c) P is a non-metal, so it will gain electrons. It needs
3 more electrons to become as stable as a Noble
Gas, so it will gain three electrons. Show gained
electrons on the left-hand side of the arrow.
 Question 3
d) Rb is a metal, so it will lose electrons. It needs to
lose 1 electron to become as stable as a Noble Gas.
Show the lost electron on the right-hand side of the
arrow.
 Question 3
e) Se is a non-metal, so it will gain electrons. It needs
2 more electrons to become as stable as a Noble
Gas, so it will gain two electrons. Show gained
electrons on the left-hand side of the arrow.
 Question 4
Explain what is meant by the term “isoelectronic”.
Answer:
The prefix “iso” means “the same”, so isoelectronic
means that two atoms or ions have the same number
of electrons or the same electron configuration.
 Question 5
What are four ions, with their charges, that are
isoelectronic with each of the following:
a) neon: N3– O2– F1– Na1+ Mg2+ Al3+
b) argon: P3– S2– Cl1– K1+ Ca2+ Sc3+
c) krypton: As3– Se2– Br1– Rb1+ Sr2+ Y3+
d) an S2– ion: P3– Cl1– K1+ Ca2+ Sc3+
 Question 6
A calcium ion, Ca2+ , is isoelectronic with argon.Does this
mean that calcium has turned into argon?
Explain.
Answer:
No, calcium has not turned into Argon. Remember, it is the
atomic number (number of protons) that determines what type
of element an atom is. The calcium ion has the same number
of electrons as an Argon atom. This just means that they are
Both stable octet with 18 electrons.
 Question 7
Write the electron configuration for the
element with atomic number 117. In which
chemical group does it belong? Predict the
charge on the ion that it will form.
 Question 7
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2
4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p5

This element belongs to the Halogen family or Group

17 (VIIB). It will gain one electron to have the same
configuration as a Noble Gas, so it will form ions with
a charge of 1-.