Electron Configuration-Physical Science
Electron Configuration-Physical Science
In identifying the electron configuration of an atom, we can use the following methods.
1. Using the Aufbau Principle, we can follow the pattern below in identifying the electron configuration
below.
We also need to take note of the maximum number of electrons per sub orbitals and the notation
below.
s – orbital (maximum of 2 electrons)
p – orbital (maximum of 6 electrons) 6
2p Number of
d – orbital (maximum of 10 electrons)
f – orbital (maximum of 14 electrons) electrons
Outer shell
To identify the electron configuration of an
element following the Aufbau Pattern,
Energy level
STEP 1: Start with identifying the element and the
number of electrons it is holding.
STEP 2: Follow the pattern of the arrow on the pattern (shown above) and fill up each notations with the
possible number of electrons.
STEP 3: Check whether the electron distribution of the element is equal to the total number of electrons
of the given element.
2. Aside from the Aufbau principle, we can use also the diagram method. The diagram method applies
the Hund’s rule, which states that every orbital in a subshell is singly occupied with one electron
before any orbital is doubly occupied, and all electrons in singly occupied orbitals have the same
spin.
↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ 26
F e =¿
1 2 3 4
2p 3p 3d
s s s s
Let us have another example: Aluminum ( A l 13)
1) Listing method (Aufbau Principle)
13 2 2 6 2 1
A l =1 s 2 s 2 p 3 s 3 p
Using the Periodic Table,
2
1s
2 6
2s 2 p
2 1
3s 3 p
13
A l =¿ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑
1 2 3
2p 3p
s s s