Question

How do you do shorthand notation for electron configuration?

Answer 1

Well, we know that the elements build on a closed-shell inert gas configuration....

Explanation:

And thus we have for `He, Z=2`, i.e. `1s^(2)`. For `Li, Z=3`, we could write `[He]2s^1`; or for `Na, Z=11`, `Mg, Z=12`, we could write....`[Ne]3s^1`, or `[Ne]3s^2` respectively. All the chemistry is going to occur with respect to the valence electrons, and the inner core in largely inert.....