Writing Electron Configurations
So, before drawing an electronic configuration we need to extract some information from the periodic table like the atomic number, no. of electrons, shells, etc. Looking through an example let’s understand the writing method of an electronic configuration. The potassium element has atomic number 19. And has 19 electrons which will be placed in s and p sub-shell.
The electronic configuration can be written as 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1. Its 19 electrons can be divided into different shells in a manner,
- K shell (n=1)= 2,
- L shell (n=2) =8,
- M shell (n=3)=8, and
- N shell (n=4)=1.
Electron Configuration
Electron Configuration of an element tells us how electrons are filled inside various orbitals of the atom. The distribution of electrons inside various orbital of atoms is very useful in explaining various properties of the atoms and their combination with other atoms. The electron configuration of the N (the most common element in the Earth’s atmosphere) is 1s2 2s2 2p4 as it has 7 electrons which are arranged in order as 2 is 1s orbital, 2 in 2s orbital, and 3 in 2p orbital.
Let’s have a look at how electrons are arranged around a nucleus for other atoms which rules are useful in achieving the right electron configuration and other in this article.
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