ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION

Shows how the electrons are distributed

among the various atomic orbitals

EXAMPLE:
H atom (ground state)

number of electrons in
n value
1s1 the orbital or subshell

Subshell or orbital
2
 Representing Electronic Configuration
Method 1: Orbital diagram

8 O: box
1s 2s 2p

platform
1s 2s 2p

Method 2: spdf notation Number of electrons in the

subshells

Azimuthal quantum number, 

8 O: 1s 2 2s 2 2p 4
Principal quantum number, n
3
Rules Used to Fill Electrons
Into Atomic Orbitals

Aufbau Principle

Hund’s Principle

Pauli’s Exclusion
Principle
 AUFBAU PRINCIPLE

Electrons fill the lowest energy orbitals first and other

orbitals in order of increasing energy.

n=1 1s
n=2 2s 2p
n=3 3s 3p 3d 1s 2s 2p

n=4 4s 4p 4d 4f
n=5 5s 5p 5d 5f

The order of filling energy orbitals with electrons:

1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s < 3d < 4p < 5s 5
Degenerate orbitals are orbitals with the same
energy.

EXAMPLE:

2px = 2py = 2pz

3dxy = 3dyz = 3dxz = 3dx2- y2 = 3dz2

 Relative Energy Level of Atomic Orbitals
4d
5s
4p

3d
n=4 4s
energy

3p
n=3 3s

2p
n=2 2s

n=1 1s

Orbital energy levels

in a many-electron atom
 EXAMPLE 1

Which of the following pairs is lower in

energy for the case of many–electron atoms:
a) 2s , 2p 2s < 2p

b) 3p , 3d 3p < 3d

c) 3s , 4s 3s < 4s

d) 4d , 5f 4d < 5f

e) 3d , 4s 4s < 3d
 PAULI EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE

No two electrons in the same atom have

the same four quantum numbers
In other words,

Each electron must have a different set of

quantum numbers
EXAMPLE:
He atom
1s2
1st electron (1,0,0, +½ ) (1,0,0, -½ ) (1,0,0, +½ )
2nd electron (1,0,0, +½ ) (1,0,0, -½ ) (1,0,0, -½ )

correct
9
 HUND’S RULE

Most stable arrangement of electrons in orbital of a

subshell is the one with the greatest number of
parallel spin

Thus electrons fill each and all degenerate orbital

EXAMPLE:
singly before they pair up.

C (Z = 6)
1s 2s 2p

number of parallel
spin = 2 10
 EXAMPLE 2
Write the electron configuration of
K (Z = 19) and Mg (Z = 12).

K : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1

Mg: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2

 EXAMPLE 3

Write the electron configuration of the

following transition metal:

a) V5+ (V; Z = 23)

b) Ti4+ (Ti; Z = 22)
c) Sc3+ (Sc; Z = 21)
 EXAMPLE 3

a) V5+
Electron configuration:
V : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d3
or
V : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3 4s2

V5+ (18 electrons)

V5+ : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

 EXAMPLE 3

b) Ti4+ (Ti; Z = 22)

Ti (22 electrons)
Electron configuration:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d2
or

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d2 4s2

Ti4+ (18 electrons)

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

 EXAMPLE 3

c) Sc3+ (Sc; Z = 21)

Sc (21 electrons)
Electron configuration:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d1
or

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s2

Sc3+ (18 electrons)

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

 EXERCISE 1
Write the ground–state electron configuration for each:
a) Ge (Z = 32)
b) Ar (Z = 18)
c) Br ( Z = 35)
d) Se (Z = 34)
e) Kr (Z = 36)

a) Ge (Z = 32): 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p2

b) Ar (Z = 18): 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
c) Br ( Z = 35): 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p5
d) Se (Z = 34): 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p4
e) Kr (Z = 36): 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6
 EXERCISE 2
Which of the following is the correct orbital
diagram for the ground–state electron
configuration of Nitrogen (Z = 7)? Explain.

a) 7 N:
1s 2s 2p

b) 7 N:
1s 2s 2p

c) 7 N:
1s 2s 2p 17
 EXERCISE 2

c) 7 N:
1s 2s 2p

Obeys Aufbau, Pauli Exclusion Principle

and Hund’s rule
 EXERCISE 3
What are the possible quantum numbers for the last
(outermost) electron in Cl?

Cl = 17 electrons

Electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5

Last electron added to 3p orbital

The possible quantum numbers:

n=3
ℓ=1
m = –1 or 0 or +1
s = +½ or –½
The Anomalous Electronic Configurations of
Chromium, Cr and Copper, Cu
Cr and Cu both have electron configurations which are
inconsistent with the Aufbau Principle.
The anomalous are explained on the basis that
a fully filled or half-filled d orbital is more stable.

Element Expected Observed/actual

e- configuration e- configuration
Cr (Z=24) [Ar] 3d4 4s2 [Ar] 3d5 4s1

Cu (Z=29) [Ar] 3d9 4s2 [Ar] 3d10 4s1

Chromium (Z=24) Anomalous Cases Copper (Z=29)

Expected electronic configuration: Expected electronic configuration:

24Cr : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d4 4s2 29Cu: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d94s2

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
3d 3d

Actual electronic configuration: Actual electronic configuration:

Cr : 1s 2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d54s1 2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d104s1
24 29Cu: 1s
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
3d 3d
REASON: REASON:
Half-filled (3d5) orbitals exhibits greater Fully filled (3d10) orbitals exhibits greater
stability stability