Electron Configuration and Atomic Structure

The video tutorial explains how to determine the electron configuration for potassium by using the periodic table to find the atomic number, which indicates the number of electrons. The process involves filling the 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and finally the 4s orbitals with electrons, ensuring the total matches potassium's 19 electrons. The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to understanding how electrons are distributed across different orbitals.

What information does the atomic number of an element provide?

• Number of neutrons

• Number of protons and electrons

• Number of isotopes

• Number of valence electrons

How many electrons can the 1s orbital hold?

• One

• Four

• Six

• Two

Which orbital is filled after the 2s orbital?

• 3p

• 2p

• 1p

• 3s

How many electrons are placed in the 2p orbital for potassium?

• Four

• Two

• Six

• Eight

After filling the 3s orbital, how many electrons have been used?

• 16

• 14

• 12

• 10

Which orbital is filled immediately after the 3p orbital?

• 5s

• 4p

• 4s

• 3d

How many electrons are placed in the 4s orbital for potassium?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

What is the total number of electrons in a neutral potassium atom?

• 20

• 21

• 19

• 18