The Anomalous Electronic Configurations of

Cr and Cu
Cr and Cu have electron configurations which are
inconsistent with the Aufbau principle. The anomalous
are explained on the basis that a filled or half-filled orbital
is more stable.

Element

Expected

Observed/actual

Cr (Z=24)

[Ar] 3d4 4s2

[Ar] 3d5 4s1

Cu (Z=29)

[Ar] 3d9 4s2

[Ar] 3d10 4s1

Orbital diagram
24Cr :

[Ar]

18

3d

Half filled orbital is more stable

(possesses an extra, added stability)

24Cr :

18

4s

[Ar]
3d

4s

Copper predicted orbital notation

Cu : [Ar]

3d

4s

3d

4s

The actual orbital notation

Cu : [Ar]

z = 21

z = 30

Exercise
Write the ground-state electronic configuration for
Cr (Z=24)
1s

2s

2p

3s

3p

4s

Cr:
3d

Extra stability is gained by having half-filled 3d-orbitals

and the energies of the 4s and 3d-orbitals are very close;
causing one of the electrons in 4s jumps to 3d orbital.

Exercise
Write the ground-state electronic configuration for
Cu (Z=29)
1s

2s

2p

3s

3p

4s

Cu:
3d

the atom with the completely filled 3d-subshells has special

stability and the difference in energy between 4s-orbital and 3dsubshell is not significant. Thus, one of the paired electrons in 4s
moves to 3d-orbitals