UNDERSTANDING

ELECTRON
CONFIGURATION
 Energy level or
orbit

Electron

Proton

Neutron Jens Martensson 2

 ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS
 The electron configuration of an atom describes the
orbitals occupied by electrons on the atom.
 Electron configuration is the arrangement of
electrons around the nucleus of an atom based on
their energy level.
 itdescribes the arrangement of electrons in
atoms
 ELECTRON ORBITALS
 Subshellsare designated by the letters s, p, d, f.
▪ s can hold 2 electrons
▪ p can hold 6 electrons
▪ d can hold 10 electrons
▪ f can hold 14 electrons
 Writing Electron Configuration

1. spdf notation
2. Orbital box notation
ORBITAL BOX NOTATION
for He, atomic number = 2
Arrows
2
1s
depict
electron
1s spin
Total electrons = atomic number
A superscript states how many electrons are in each
level
Example:
Hydrogen – 1s1 1 electron total
Helium – 1s2 2 electrons total
Lithium – 1s2 2s1 3 electrons total
Beryllium – 1s2 2s2 4 electrons total
 Example of electron configuration

If you will add these numbers

1. Sodium (11Na) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 you’ll get the total of 11 electrons.

This is an example of electron configuration but how it is done?

Remember these steps for spdf notation:

1. Identify the number of electron an element has by looking its
atomic number in the periodic table.
2. Use the mnemonic device. (What is mnemonic device? Click
for the next slide)
3. Follow the correct order of writing the spdf notation
Mnemonic Device
Remember:
s subshell can hold 2
electrons
p subshell can hold 6
electrons
d subshell can hold 10
electrons
f subshell can hold 14
electrons

It is arranged just like this.

But in this discussion, we will
only focus until 4s.
Remember these steps for orbital box notation:
After making the spdf notation, proceed with the orbital box notation. How?

1. First, make a box in accordance with the spdf. One box for s sublevel,
three boxes for p sublevel, five boxes with d sublevel, and 7 boxes in f
sublevel.
Take a look at the example.

2. Put an arrow that depends on the number of electron. Just remember

that arrow should start UPWARD and before making an arrow down.
 Let’s Practice!
2 arrows because there are
two electrons.
1. Write the electron configuration of Helium 2He.
spdf notation: 2He = 1s2 Orbital box notation: 2He = 1s2

2. Write the electron configuration of Beryllium 4Be 1s

2+2 = 4, electron of
Beryllium.

4 Be = 1s 2 2s2
Orbital box notation: 4Be = 1s2 2s2 1s 2s
4 arrows because there are 4 electrons and two boxes because you have 2 s
sublevels. Remember the rule in writing the arrow up and down.

This is incorrect. Why? Because if you will notice it use 3 on

4Be = 1s3 2s1 the s subshell which does not follow the rule that s subshell
can only carries 2 electrons.
3. Write the electron configuration of Carbon with an atomic number
of 6.

6C - 1s2 2s2 2p2

Remember complete the
Orbital box : 6C - 1s2 2s2 2p2 designated box per subshell.
Note: If a orbital box has
1s 2s 2p
complete electrons, the arrows
should be up and down.

This diagram may have the

same number of electrons but
the arrangement of electrons
does not follow certain rules.
incorrect
More Practice!

Consider as one p
sublevel
4. Write the electron configuration of Nitrogen 7N. Not like this!

7 N= 1s 2 2s2 2p3
7N= 1s2 2s2 2p3
1s 2s 2p
It should look like this, fill out first in arrow up before putting an arrow down. Seven
arrows because you have 7 electrons.
5. Write the electron configuration of 15Phosphorus.

15P= 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3

15P= 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3

1s 2s 2p 3s 3p
 Practice makes Perfect!

Trial 1: Write the electronic configuration of the following elements.

Element Atomic Electron Configuration
Number
1. Li
2. B
3. Na
4. Si
5. Ca
 TRIAL 1 ANSWER:

Element Atomic Electron Configuration

Number
1. Li 3 1s2 2s1
2. B 5 1s2 2s2 2p1
3. Na 11 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
4. Si 14 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
5. Ca 20 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
 Electron Configuration

1s1
group #
row #
shell # # valence e-
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?
 1A group # = # valence (outside) e- 8A

1 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A

3
Row 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 8B 8B 1B 2B
4
=
# 5 s d p
shells 6
7

7 f
 Subshells d and f are “special”
1A group # = # valence e- 8A
period # = # e- shells 1 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A
2
3 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 8B 8B 1B 2B
4 3d
5
6
4d
5d
d
7 6d
6 4f
7 5f f
CORE ELECTRON VS. VALENCE ELECTRON

Core electrons are electrons occupying the

inner shell orbitals while valence electrons are
electrons occupying the outermost shell orbital
(highest value of n).
 PAIRED ELECTRONS VS
UNPAIRED ELECTRONS
Paired electrons are the electrons in an atom that occur in
an orbital as pairs while Unpaired electrons are the electrons
in an atom that occur in an orbital alone.

Image source: https://www.differencebetween.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Difference-Between-Paired-and-Unpaired-Electrons-fig-1.png

Example No. 1

3Li = 1s2 2s1

Period number: 2 - 1s2 2s1 (depends on the last energy level)

Group number : 1 - 1s2 2s1 (depends on the electron on the last shell)

Paired electron : 1
One unpaired electron
Unpaired electron :1

One paired electron

Core electron: 2
Valence electron : 1 3Li = 1s2 2s1
Valence
Core electron electron
Example No. 2

8O = 1s2 2s2 2p4

Period number: 2 1s2 2s2 2p4 – last energy level is 2.

Group number : 6 1s2 2s2 2p4 - total of 6 electrons

(because they have same energy level of 2, you need to ADD all the electrons)

Paired electron : 3 What can you observe about

Unpaired electron : 2 group number and valence
electron?

Core electron: 2 1s2 2s2 2p4

Valence
Valence electron : 6 Core electron electron
 Example No. 3
15P = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3

Period number: 3 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3

5

Group number : 5 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3

1 2 3 4 5 6
Paired electron : 6
Unpaired electron :3

5
Core electron: 10
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
Valence electron : 5
10
 QUANTUM NUMBER
 According to Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, it is not
possible to give the exact position of an electron and
its energy.
 Butthe probability of finding an electron in an orbital
of given energy can be determined.
 The
four quantum numbers: principal quantum
numbers, angular quantum numbers and magnetic
quantum numbers and spin quantum numbers
 1. Principal Quantum Number
 main energy level of an orbital represents by “n”
 Indicates the relative size of the orbital
 An increase in “n” means an increase in the energy of the
electron in an orbital
n = 1, 2, 3 …
Take note that as the electron moves from
higher energy level to lower energy level, a
photon or light is emitted. Image source: https://d1whtlypfis84e.cloudfront.net/guides/wp-
content/uploads/2018/05/16090641/Quantum-Numbers.png
 Energy levels closer to the nucleus have lower energy. As n
increases, the orbital becomes larger and the electron spends
more time farther from the nucleus.
 Each energy level has a maximum number of electrons.
n Maximum number of electrons
1 2
2 8
3 18
4 32
2. Angular Momentum Number or
Azimuthal Quantum Number
 Designates the sub-level (apartment) where the electron can be found.

 Gives the shape of the orbital represented by symbol l

Value of l Sublevel Orbital Shape

0 sharp –s spherical

1 principal - p dumbbell-shaped

2 diffuse - d cloverleaf

3 fundamental - f Ringged dumbbell

 Principal Quantum Number and
Angular Momentum Number
Principal Type of Sublevel Maximum
energy Sublevel and Number of number of
level orbitals electrons
As shown in the table,
1 1 1s (1 orbital) 2
principal energy level is
2 2 2s (1 orbital) 2 8 ALWAYS EQUAL to the
2p (3 orbitals) 6 number of sublevels within
3 3 3s (1 orbital) 2 that principal energy
3p (3 orbitals) 6 18 level.
3d (5 orbitals) 10
4 4 4s (1 orbital) 2
4p (3 orbitals) 6 32
4d (5 orbitals) 10 Remember: One orbit can
4f (7 orbitals) 14 hold only two electrons.
 3. Magnetic Quantum Number
 Designates the orbital (room) where the electron can be found.

 Specifies the orientation in space of an orbital represented by letter ml

 ml specifies to which orbital within a subshell the electron is assigned.
 Values of ml: from –l, ….0, ….+l.
 The middle orbital of a subshell has a value of 0. Orbitals to the left of the
middle orbital have negative numbers; to the right, they have +
numbers.
 4. Spin Quantum Number
Designates the SPIN OF THE ELECTRON and
describes the behavior of the electron, not
the location.
Values: +½ , -½.
Arrow up ↑ is +½, (referred to as “spin up”);
arrow down ↓ is –½ (referred to as “spin
down”.
 SUMMARY OF QUANTUM NUMBERS
Quantum number Symbol Description

Principal quantum
n main energy level n=1 , n=2, n=3 n=4 ..
number
Angular Momentum
l sublevel/subshell s=0 p=1 d= 2 f=3
number

Magnetic Quantum
ml orbital room 0 -1 0 1 -2 -1 0 1 2
number
s p d

Spin Quantum arrow up ↑ is +½

ms spin of the electron
number arrow down ↓ is –½
 Main energy
level (n) Shell

Magnetic Quantum
Number ( l ) 0 1 2 3

Subshell s p d f

Spin Quantum number, ms

▪ arrow up ↑ is +½
0 -1 0 1 -2 -1 0 1 2
▪ arrow down ↓ is –½ -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
 Electronic Configuration and
Quantum Number Combination

Let us use the examples on the previous slide to know the quantum numbers for the specific
element.
1. 2He= 1s2 (Electron configuration)
Quantum numbers: n = 1 why? 1s2 remember it is the main energy level
of an orbital
l = 0 why? 1s2 The sublevel is s which has 0 value.
ml = 0 why? Remember s subshell has only one box.
ms= -½ why? It ends in arrow down ↓
2. 4Be - 1s2 2s2 - electron configuration
Quantum numbers : n = 2 why? 1s2 2s2
l=0 why? 1s2 2s2 The sublevel is s which has 0 as
value.

ml = 0 why?

ms= -½ why? It ends in arrow down

3. 7N= 1s2 2s2 2p3 – Electron configuration
Quantum numbers : n = 2 why? 1s2 2s2 2p3
l=1 why? 1s2 2s2 2p3 The sublevel is p which has 1 as value.
ml = -1, 0, +1 why?

Because the arrow electron can occupy any one of these p orbitals

ms= +½ why? It ends in arrow up

 Let’s try ….
Trial 2: Write the electronic configuration and quantum numbers of the
following elements.

Element Electron configuration Quantum numbers

n= m l=
1. 1H
l= m s=
n= m l=
2. 9F
l= m s=
n= m l=
3. 10Ne
l= m s=
n= m l=
4. 16S
l= m s=
n= m l=
5. 19K
l= m s=
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
TRIAL 2 ANSWER:
Element Electron configuration and Orbital Box Quantum numbers
1s1 n= 1 m l= 0
1. 1H
l= 0 ms= +½
1s2 2s2 2p5 n= 2 m l= 0
2. 9F
l= 1 ms= -½
1s2 2s2 2p6 n= 2 m l= 1
3. 10Ne
l= 1 ms= -½
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4 n= 3 ml= -1
4. 16S l= 1 ms= -½

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p64s1 n= 4 m l= 1

5. 19K l= 0 ms= -½
Launch