ELECTRONIC

ELECTRONIC
CONFIGURATION
CONFIGURATION
Electron Configuration
The distribution of electrons of an atom or
molecule in atomic or molecular orbitals.
VALENCE ELECTRON

• Electrons in the outermost energy level.

Lewis Electron-Dot Structure
Used to represent the number of valence electron.
Pioneered and named after Gilbert Newton Lewis who
explained the relationship between electron structure and
chemical bonding.
Quantum theory (otherwise known as quantum
physics or quantum mechanics) is one of the two main planks of
modern physics, along with general relativity, and between them
the two theories claim to explain virtually everything about
the universe. General relativity gives us our picture of the very big
(space-time and gravity), while quantum theory gives us our
picture of the very small (atoms and their constituents).

In 1900, physicist Max Planck presented his quantum theory to the

German Physical Society. Planck had sought to discover the reason
that radiation from a glowing body changes in color.
Planck wrote a mathematical equation involving a figure to
represent these individual units of energy, which he called quanta.
 The Development of Quantum Theory
In 1900, Planck made the assumption that energy was made of individual units, or
quanta.
In 1905, Albert Einstein theorized that not just the energy, but the radiation itself
was quantized in the same manner.
In 1924, Louis de Broglie proposed that there is no fundamental difference in the
makeup and behavior of energy and matter; on the atomic and subatomic level
either may behave as if made of either particles or waves. This theory became
known as the principle of wave-particle duality: elementary particles of both energy
and matter behave, depending on the conditions, like either particles or waves.
In 1927, Werner Heisenberg proposed that precise, simultaneous measurement of
two complementary values - such as the position and momentum of a subatomic
particle - is impossible. Contrary to the principles of classical physics, their
simultaneous measurement is inescapably flawed; the more precisely one value is
measured, the more flawed will be the measurement of the other value. This theory
became known as the uncertainty principle, which prompted Albert Einstein's
famous comment, "God does not play dice."
 QUANTUM
MECHANICAL MODEL
According to the
Quantum Machanical
Model, elctrons have no
precise orbits. Instead
their motion can only be
described by the
probability of finding
them in certain regions
surrounding the nucleus.
ORBITALS
An atomic orbital is a region around the nucleus of
an atom where an electron with a given energy is
likely to be found.

Orbitals have characteristics of shapes, sizes, and

energies. But orbitals do not describe how the
electron actually moves.
The distribution of electrons among the orbitals of
an atom is called electron configuration.
The electron configuration of an atom describes
where the electrons are found and what energies
they possess.
Electron configuration of atoms are determined by
distributing the atom's electrons among levels,
sublevels, and orbitals based on a set of stated
principles.
 The s sublevel is
always lowest in energy,
followed by the p , then
the d , and finally the f.
When the electrons
populate the lowest
energy orbitals available
the atom is said to be in
its ground state.
How are the electrons distributed in an
atom?
1. The selection of orbitals for the electrons of an
atom in its ground state follows an order determined
by what is known as the “Aufbau ( German: build
-up) principle”.
Electrons will successively occupy the
available orbitals in order of increasing energy.
 2. When electrons enter a sublevel containing
more than one orbital, they will spread out over the
available orbitals with their spins in the same
direction before they pair up with opposite spins.
This rule is known as Hund's rule of multiplicity,
which was proposed by Friedrich Hund, a German
Physicist.
Example:
Give the electron configuration of Oxygen and its
orbital diagram.
Electron Configuration

1S2 2s2 2p4

Orbital Diagram
 SHORT HAND METHOD
OF ELECTRON CONFIGURATION
STEP 1
Find the element on the periodic table.
STEP 2
Go back to the last noble gas that was passed (atomic #).
STEP 3
Write the symbol of the noble gas in brackets to start your electron
configuration. Put the atomic # of the noble gas beneath the symbol to let you
know the number of electrons already presented.
STEP 4
Continue your electron configuration using row after the noble gas.
STEP 5
Continue writing your electron configuration following the chart until you reach
the correct number of electron.
 ACTIVITY
Give the electronic configuration of the
following:
1.Na
2.N
3.Ne
4.Ca
5.Rb