Question

How can you find the electron configuration for an element?

Answer 1

use the atomic number, the number of electrons and then place the into the electron orbitals starting with the lowest energy levels.

Explanation:

The first two elections go into the the 1s 2 electrons total
The next two electrons go into the 2s 4 electrons total
The next six electrons go into the 2p 10 electrons total
the next two electrons go into the 3s 12 electrons total
The next six electrons go into the 3p 18 electrons total.
The next two electrons go into the 4s 20 electrons total
The next 10 electron go into the 3d
( the electrons go into the 4s and 3d 30 electrons total
The next six electrons go into the 4p 36 electrons total

With the f orbital the order gets complicated.