Electron Configuration

and Orbital Diagram

- Jhunriel C. Sorita
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram

Electron configuration – refers to the arrangement of

electrons within an atom. It describes how these electrons
are distributed among the energy levels and orbitals around
the nucleus of an atom.
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram
In writing electron configurations, each orbital and the
electron(s) it holds are represented as,
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram

Take note that in a neutral atom, the number of electrons is

equal to the number of protons. Thus, the number of
electrons in an atom is equal to its atomic number.
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram

The Aufbau principle of filling up the orbitals states that

the electrons must first occupy the orbitals with lower
energies than those with higher energies. The first two
orbitals (1s and 2s) are each occupied first with two
electrons.
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram
The sequence in filling up the orbitals in an atom:
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram
Example: Write the electron configuration of the following
elements:
• Fluorine
• Cobalt
• Barium
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram
Orbital Diagrams – these are common way of showing
electron configurations in which the orbitals are shown as
boxes and the electrons as arrows.
Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagram
Paramagnetism and Diamagnetism
Paramagnetism
Refers to the characteristic of an element to be slightly
attracted to a magnet. It results from the presence of
unpaired electrons in some of the atomic orbitals of an atom,
which creates a net magnetic moment for the atom.
Paramagnetism and Diamagnetism
Diamagnetism
Is characterized by non-attraction, or even a slight repulsion,
of an element to a magnet. When the electrons in an atom’s
orbitals are all paired, the atom does not have a net magnetic
moment and is not attracted by an external magnetic field.
Short Quiz:
Write the electron configuration and orbital diagram of the
following elements. What type of magnetic property will it
exhibit?
1. Tc 4. Co
2. Cs 5. Au
3. Al