Electrons in

Each Shell of
an Atom
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 Blocks in the periodic table
S block P block
p 1
e 2 D block
r 3
4
i 5
o 6
d 7
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F block

• Elements belonging to the S and P blocks have filled inner shells; they only
have to fill the valence shell
• Elements belonging to the D block have incomplete semi-last shell. They
tend to go back one shell down to complete it (the semi-last shell) after
putting 2 electrons in the last shell
• Elements in the F block have incomplete 2 inner shells (the 3 rd and the 2nd
shells from the last). So they go back 2 shells down to complete it after
putting 2 electrons in the last shell
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• Normally, the number inside each box in the periodic table is the atomic number of the
element occupying that box
• But we can also consider the numbers inside the box as ordinal number of an electron, and
the period as the shell where that electron is located.
• An electron in the S or P block is located in the shell represented by its period # (row #).
• 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th electrons, for example, are all located in shell #3 because
they are all located in the 3rd row of the periodic table
• An electron in the D block is located in a shell that is one number lower than the period #.
(Row# – 1)
• 21st , 22nd, 23rd, up to 30th electrons are located in shell # 3 (that is, row # - 1)
• 39th, 40th, 41st, up to 48th electrons are located in shell #4 (row # - 1)
• An electron in the F block is located in a shell that is 2 numbers lower than the period #
(Row# -2)
• 57th, 58th up to 70th electrons are located in shell # 4 (row # - 2)
• 89th, 90th, 91st up to 102nd electrons are located in shell #5 (row # -2)
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• Example: Element with atomic number of 15

• An atom of the element has 15 electrons
• Shell #1: 1st and 2nd of its electrons = 2 e
• Shell #2: 3rd & 4th + 5th to 10th (or 2+6) = 8 e
• Shell #3: 11th & 12th + 13th, 14th & 15th (or 2 + 3) = 5 e

2 8 5
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• Example: Element with atomic number of 15

• An atom of the element has 15 electrons
Shell #1 Shell #2 Shell #3

1st & 2nd 2e 3rd & 4th 2e 11th & 12th 2e

5th – 10th 6e 13th – 15th 3e
8e 5e

2 8 5
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• Example: Element with atomic number of 41 (41 e)

• Shell #1: 1st and 2nd of its electrons = 2 e
• Shell #2: 3rd & 4th + 5th to 10th (or 2+6) = 8 e
• Shell #3: 11th & 12th + 13th to 18th + 21st to 30th (or 2+6+10) = 18 e
• Shell #4: 19th & 20th + 31st to 36th+ 39th to 41st (or 2+6+3) = 11 e
• Shell #5: 37th and 38th = 2 e

2 8 18 11 2
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• Example: Element with atomic number of 41 (41 e)

Shell #1 Shell #2 Shell #3 Shell #4 Shell #5
37th & 38th
1st & 2nd 2e 3rd & 4th 2e 11th &12th 2e 19th &20th 2e 2e
5th – 10th 6e 13th – 18th 6e 31st – 36th 6e
8e 21st – 30th 10e 39 – 41
th st 3e
18e 11e

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• Example: Element with atomic number of 82 (82 e)

• Shell #1: 1st and 2nd of its electrons = 2 e
• Shell #2: 3rd & 4th + 5th to 10th (or 2+ 6) = 8 e
• Shell #3: 11th & 12th + 13th to 18th + 21st to 30th (or 2+6+10) = 18 e
• Shell #4: 19th & 20th + 31st to 36th + 39th to 48th + 57th to 70th (or 2+6+10+14) =32e
• Shell #5: 37th & 38th + 49th to 54th + 71st to 80th (or 2+6+10) = 18e
• Shell #6: 55th & 56th + 81st & 82nd (or 2+2) = 4e

2 8 18 32 18 4
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listening