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Electronic Configuration and Atomic Structure

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Overview

The distribution of electrons in the various shells of atom is known as the electron configuration. There are different ways to write electronic configuration. This note explains what is electronic configuration and how to write it.
Electronic Configuration and Atomic Structure

Electric configuration

The distribution of electrons in the various shells of an atom is known as the electron configuration. The following table shows the electronic configuration of some atoms.

Table 2: Electric configuration of atoms of some elements

Elements Symbol Atomic number Energy shells and number of electrons in them
K(1) L(2) M(3) N(4)
Hydrogen H 1 1
Helium He 2 2
Lithium Li 3 2 1
Beryllium Be 4 2 2
Boron B 5 2 3
Carbon C 6 2 4
Nitrogen N 7 2 5
Oxygen O 8 2 6
Fluorine F 9 2 7
Neon Ne 10 2 8
Sodium Na 11 2 8 1
Magnesium Mg 12 2 8 2
Aluminum Al 13 2 8 3
Silicon Si 14 2 8 4
Phosphorous P 15 2 8 5
Sulfur S 16 2 8 6
Chlorine Cl 17 2 8 7
Argon A r 18 2 8 8
Potassium K 19 2 8 8 1
Calcium Ca 20 2 8 8 2

How to draw the atomic structure of an atom?
To draw the atomic structure of hydrogen atom:

  1. Draw a small circle. Write 1P and 0 N. This represent nucleus.
  2. Draw another circle outside the inner circle. Since, the atom of hydrogen element contains 1 proton, the number of an electron will be the same. Therefore, write e or Q the outer circle. This cell is k shell.

The atomic structure of some or the element are shown as follow:

Hydrogen

The atomic number of hydrogen is 1 and its mass number is also 1.

Number of electrons = Atomic number = 1

Number of protons = Atomic number = 1

Number of neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number

Thus, the hydrogen atom contains only one proton in its nucleus at high speed in the lowest energy level.

shell K L M N
no. of electrons 1 0 0 0
Helium

Mass no. = 4

Atomic Number = 2

Proton = 2

Neutron = 2

Electron = 2

The atomic number of helium is 2 and its mass number is 4. Therefore, it contains 2 electrons, 2 protons, and 2 neutrons.

shell K L M N
no. of electrons 2 0 0 0
Lithium

Mass no. = 7

Atomic no. = 3

Proton = 3

Neutron = 4

Electrons = 3

shell K L M N
no. of electrons 2 1 0 0
Beryllium

Mass no. = 9

Atomic no. = 4

Proton = 4

Neutron = 5

Electron = 2, 2

shell K L M N
no. of electrons 2 2 0 0
Boron

Mass no. = 11

Atomic no. = 5

Proton = 5

Neutron = 6

Electron = 2, 3

shell K L M N
no. of electrons 2 3 0 0
Carbon

Mass no. = 12
Atomic no = 6
Proton = 6
Neutron = 6
Electron = 2, 4

The atomic weight of carbon is 6 and its mass is 12. Therefore, it contains 6 electrons, 6 protons, and 6 neutrons.

shell K L M N
no. of electrons 2 4 0 0

Things to remember
  • The distribution of electrons in the various shells of atom is known as the electron configuration.
  • Draw a small circle. Write 1P and 0 N. This represent nucleus.
  • Draw another circle outside the inner circle. Since, the atom of hydrogen element contain 1 proton, the number of electron will be the same. Therefore, write e or Q the outer circle. This cell is k shell.
  • Likewise there are higher shells such as L, M, N which hold different number of electrons.
  • It includes every relationship which established among the people.
  • There can be more than one community in a society. Community smaller than society.
  • It is a network of social relationships which cannot see or touched.
  • common interests and common objectives are not necessary for society.
Videos for Electronic Configuration and Atomic Structure
Atoms, Molecules, Elements and Compounds
Electron Configuration
Electron Configurations - Electrons and Sublevels
Understanding Atoms, elements, and molecules Part #1 (9min)
Questions and Answers

The molecule is the smallest particle which possesses the properties of a compound.

The 2n2 rule is a rule which is used to determine the number of electrons that can exist different shell of atoms. For example: for k shell (n)= 1
No of electron in k-shell = 2n2
= 2 (1)2
=2
No of electron in L-shell = 2n2
2.(2)2
2 x 4
=8

The tendency of an atom to have 8 electrons in their outermost shell is called octet. The tendency of an atom to have two electrons in their first shell is called duplet.

Those elements which can react easily with other elements during chemical reactions are called reactive elements.

Neon is an inert gas because its outermost orbit is fulfilled with 8 electron and it does not take part in chemical reaction.

The valency of oxygen is two because it gains two electrons during the chemical reaction.

The elements of group IA are called alkali metals because they easily react with water to produce alkali.

Chlorine is called reactive non-metals because it can easily gain one electron and possesses unit negative charge.

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