Follow the
steps below to write short cut version of electron configurations.
Step 1: Find
the element on the periodic table.
Step 2:
Go back to the last noble gas that was passed (atomic number).
Step 3: Write
the symbol of the noble gas in brackets to start your electron configuration.
Put the atomic number of the noble gas beneath the symbol to let you know
the number of electrons already represented. Take note of the row the
noble gas is in on the periodic table.
Step 4: Continue
your electron configuration using the row after the noble gas. For example,
Krypton ends the 4th row so you would begin with 5. Always begin with
the s subshell.
Step 5:
Continue writing your electron configuration following the chart until
you reach the correct number of electrons.
Example:
Write the short cut electron configuration for osmium.
Description |
Example |
| Step
1: Find the element on the periodic table. |
Step
1:
Osmium is element 76. |
| Step
2: Go back to the last noble gas that was passed (atomic
number). |
Step
2:
Going back, the last noble gas was xenon. |
| Step
3: Write the symbol of the noble gas in brackets to start
your electron configuration. Put the atomic number of the noble gas
beneath the symbol to let you know the number of electrons already
represented. Take note of the row the noble gas is in on the periodic
table. |
Step
3:
Os: [Xe]
54
Xenon
ends the fifth row on the periodic table. |
| Step
4: Continue your electron configuration using the row after
the noble gas. For example, Krypton ends the 4th row so you would
begin with 5. Always begin with the s subshell. |
Since xenon ends the fifth row of the periodic table, we should
begin with the sixth.
Step
4:Os:
[Xe] 6s
54
|
| Step
5: Continue writing your electron configuration following
the chart until you reach the correct number of electrons. |
Since osmium is 76, we must represent 76 electrons.
Step
5:
Os: [Xe] 6s2 4f14
5d6
54
|
-Special Thanks to Laura H. for her assistance with this tutorial. |
