Electronic Structure Worksheet

The pictures below show how electrons are arranged in two atoms. Look closely at
each figure. Then answer the questions.

PART A - This figure shows a sulfur atom. The atomic

number of sulfur is 16.

1. How many shells of electrons does sulfur have?

2. a) Is the first (n=1) shell the innermost or

outermost?

b) How many electrons does the first (n=1) shell have? _____________

c) Is this first (n=1) shell full?

d) The first (n=1) shell is________________the nucleus.

closest to or farthest from

3. a) For the second shell, n =

b) How many electrons does the second shell have?

c) Is this second shell full?

4. a) For the third shell, n =

b) How many electrons does the third shell have?

c) Is this third shell full?

d) As the third shell is the most outside shell of this diagram, we can also call it the
_______________ shell.
innermost or outermost

5. Altogether, how many electrons does sulfur have? -

6. Another shell is not needed because:

Circle the answer that best completes the sentence.

a) the last shell is full,

b) this atom has no more electrons.
PART B - This figure shows a neon atom. The atomic number of neon is 10.

7. a) How many electrons does the first (n=1) shell have?

b) Is this first (n=1) shell full?

8. a) How many electrons does it have?

i. Is the second shell full?

c) Is the second shell the innermost or outermost?

9. Altogether, how many electrons does this atom have?

10. This atom is stable because:

Circle the answer that best completes the sentence.

a) the outermost shell is filled, and it will not lose or gain electrons.
b) The outermost shell is not filled.