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This page explores how you write electronic structures for atoms
using s, p, and d notation. It assumes that you know about simple
atomic orbitals - at least as far as the way they are named, and
their relative energies. If you want to look at the electronic
structures of simple monatomic ions (such as Cl-, Ca2+ and Cr3+),
you will find a link at the bottom of the page.
Important! If you haven't already read the page on atomic orbitals you
should follow this link before you go any further.
Important! You must have a copy of your syllabus and copies of recent
exam papers. If you are studying a UK-based syllabus and haven't got
them, follow this link to find out how to get hold of them.
Hydrogen has its only electron in the 1s orbital - 1s1, and at helium
the first level is completely full - 1s2.
Now we need to start filling the second level, and hence start the
second period. Lithium's electron goes into the 2s orbital because
that has a lower energy than the 2p orbitals. Lithium has an
electronic structure of 1s22s1. Beryllium adds a second electron to
this same level - 1s22s2.
Now the 2p levels start to fill. These levels all have the same
energy, and so the electrons go in singly at first.
B 1s22s22px1
C 1s22s22px12py1
N 1s22s22px12py12pz1
O 1s22s22px22py12pz1
F 1s22s22px22py22pz1
Ne 1s22s22px22py22pz2
You can see that it is going to get progressively tedious to write the
full electronic structures of atoms as the number of electrons
increases. There are two ways around this, and you must be
familiar with both.
Notice that the 2p electrons are all lumped together whereas the 3p
ones are shown in full. The logic is that the 3p electrons will be
involved in bonding because they are on the outside of the atom,
whereas the 2p electrons are buried deep in the atom and aren't
really of any interest.
Shortcut 2: You can lump all the inner electrons together using, for
example, the symbol [Ne]. In this context, [Ne] means the
electronic structure of neon - in other words: 1s22s22px22py22pz2 You
wouldn't do this with helium because it takes longer to write [He]
than it does 1s2.
At neon, all the second level orbitals are full, and so after this we
have to start the third period with sodium. The pattern of filling is
now exactly the same as in the previous period, except that
everything is now happening at the 3-level.
For example:
short version
Mg 1s 2s 2p 3s
2 2 6 2
[Ne]3s2
S 1s22s22p63s23px23py13pz1 [Ne]3s23px23py13pz1
Ar 1s22s22p63s23px23py23pz2 [Ne]3s23px23py23pz2
Note: Check that you can do these. Cover the text and then work out
these structures for yourself. Then do all the rest of this period. When
you've finished, check your answers against the corresponding
elements from the previous period. Your answers should be the same
except a level further out.
At this point the 3-level orbitals aren't all full - the 3d levels haven't
been used yet. But if you refer back to the energies of the orbitals,
you will see that the next lowest energy orbital is the 4s - so that
fills next.
K 1s22s22p63s23p64s1
Ca 1s22s22p63s23p64s2
Note: If you use the current IUPAC (international Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry) system for group numbering, you will probably know
what I call Group 3 as Group 13. My reasons for not using the IUPAC
system are discussed on this page in the Questions and Comments
section.
d-block elements
We are working out the electronic structures of the atoms using the
Aufbau ("building up") Principle. So far we have got to calcium with
a structure of 1s22s22p63s23p64s2.
The 4s level is now full, and the structures of the next atoms show
electrons gradually filling up the 3d level. These are known as d-
block elements.
Once the 3d orbitals have filled up, the next electrons go into the 4p
orbitals as you would expect.
d5 means
d8 means
Notice in what follows that all the 3-level orbitals are written
together - with the 4s electrons written at the end of the electronic
structure.
Sc 1s22s22p63s23p63d14s2
Ti 1s22s22p63s23p63d24s2
V 1s22s22p63s23p63d34s2
Cr 1s22s22p63s23p63d54s1
Co 1s22s22p63s23p63d74s2
Ni 1s22s22p63s23p63d84s2
Cu 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s1 (another awkward one!)
Zn 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s
2 2 6 2 6 10 2
The next orbitals to be used are the 4p, and these fill in exactly the
same way as the 2p or 3p. We are back now with the p-block
elements from gallium to krypton. Bromine, for example, is
1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24px24py24pz1.
Useful exercise: Work out the electronic structures of all the elements
from gallium to krypton. You can check your answers by comparing
them with the elements directly above them in the Periodic Table. For
example, gallium will have the same sort of arrangement of its outer
level electrons as boron or aluminium - except that gallium's outer
electrons will be in the 4-level.
Summary
Use the Periodic Table to find the atomic number, and hence
number of electrons.
Fill up orbitals in the order 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p -
until you run out of electrons. The 3d is the awkward one -
remember that specially. Fill p and d orbitals singly as far as
possible before pairing electrons up.
What about the inner electrons if you need to work them out as
well? The 1, 2 and 3 levels will all be full, and so will the 4s, 4p and
4d. The 4f levels don't fill until after anything you will be asked
about at A'level. Just forget about them! That gives the full
structure: 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25px25py25pz1.
When you've finished, count all the electrons to make sure that they
come to the same as the atomic number. Don't forget to make this
check - it's easy to miss an orbital out when it gets this
complicated.