Electron Configuration Basics

Front

What is electron configuration?

Back

The distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals, indicating the energy levels and sublevels occupied by electrons.

Front

What is the Aufbau principle?

Back

Electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals first before filling higher energy orbitals.

Front

What is the Pauli Exclusion Principle?

Back

No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers; each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins.

Front

What is Hund's Rule?

Back

Electrons will fill degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly before pairing up.

Front

What is the significance of the noble gas configuration?

Back

Noble gas configurations simplify electron configurations by using the nearest noble gas to represent inner-shell electrons.

Front

What is the electron configuration for Oxygen (O)?

Back

1s² 2s² 2p⁴

Front

What is the electron configuration for Argon (Ar)?

Back

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶

Front

What is the electron configuration for Iron (Fe)?

Back

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d⁶

Front

What is the electron configuration for Silver (Ag)?

Back

[Kr] 5s² 4d¹⁰

Front

What is the electron configuration for Neon (Ne)?

Back

1s² 2s² 2p⁶