What does electron configuration tell you about an element?

1 Answer
Ahmet C · Stefan V.
Apr 14, 2015

It tells you how many electrons there are in each of the different orbitals (s, p, d, or f) and at which energy level (n= 1, 2, 3, ...).

Examples:

#1s^(2) -># 2 electrons in the s orbital on first energy level. (this happens to be the electron configuration of helium, #He#)

#[He] 2s^(2) 2p^(5) -># electron configuration of fluorine, #F#. Here's how you'd break down the configuration

  • #1s^(2)#, so 2 electrons in the s orbital on 1st energy level - this is the electron configuration of helium;
  • #2s^(2)#, so 2 electrons in s orbital on 2nd energy level;
  • #2p^(5)#, so 5 electrons in the p orbital on 2nd energy level

#[Ar] 4s^(2) 3d^(2)# -> electron configuration of titanium, #Ti#

  • #[Ar]# - the electron configuration of argon, #Ar#
  • 2 electrons in s orbital of 4th energy level
  • 2 electrons in d orbital on 3rd energy level
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