CHEM.

2AP

UNIT 5

CH. 7

23

Quantum Mechanics

ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS
We will now consider the arrangements of electron in atoms. The way in which the electrons are distributed among
the various orbitals is called the electron configuration. The most stable, or ground state electron configuration
of an atom is that in which the electrons are in the lowest possible energy states. The electron configuration of an
element is a shorthand way of writing the orbital filling diagram of an atom. The sublevels are written in order of
filling and the number of electrons in each sublevel is written as a superscripted number. The sum of the superscripts
is equal to the atomic number. For example, the electron configuration of sodium is:
(read as one s two, two s two.)
Na: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
A more simple form of the electron configuration is THE NOBLE GAS CORE CONFIGURATION. This
configuration shows in brackets the noble gas element that most nearly precedes the element being considered,
followed by the symbol for the highest filled subshells in the outmost shells beyond the noble gas configuration. The
noble gas in brackets represents the noble gas configuration. This method is especially useful in writing
configurations of the higher atomic number elements. The noble gas core of sodium is:
Na: [Ne] 3s1
where [Ne] = 1s2 2s2 2p6.
Another representation of electrons in an atom is called an orbital diagram. Instead of drawing boxes for each
orbital, draw only a line and place the arrows over the lines. Make sure you separate the sublevels. Use the noble gas
core to represent the rest of the atom.
Orbital diagram of chlorine
[Ne]

3s
3p
EXERCISE: Write the full electron configuration and the noble gas core configuration, and the orbital diagram of
the following elements: Hydrogen, nitrogen, potassium, nickel, bromine, iron, silver, molybdenum, barium, lanthanum,
osmium, radon, californium.

The properties of an atom or group of atoms are determined by the configuration of the outmost shell. The outmost
shell consists of the subshells that are filled last. This configuration explains the similar chemical properties within
the same group.
EXERCISE: Write the noble gas core configuration of the alkali metals. What is the similarity in the configurations
that account for the similar properties of the alkali metals?
PARAMAGNETIC AND DIAMAGNETIC SUBSTANCES
If 2 electrons in the 1s orbital of a helium atom had the same or parallel spins ( or ), their net magnetic fields would
reinforce each other. Such an arrangement would make the helium atom paramagnetic. (Fig. A below). Paramagnetic substances
are those that are attracted by a magnet. On the other hand, if the electron spins are paired, or antiparallel to each other ( or
) the magnetic effects cancel out and the atom is diamagnetic. (Fig b below). By experiment, helium is diamagnetic in its
ground state.

RULE: Any atom with at least one unpaired electron is paramagnetic. An atom is diamagnetic if all electrons are paired.

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UNIT 5

CH. 7

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Quantum Mechanics

EXAMPLE: Give the electron configuration, the noble gas core configuration, and the orbital filling notation of
nickel (28). Label as paramagnetic or diamagnetic.
Nickel:
Electron configuration:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d8

Noble gas core configuration: [Ar] 4s2 3d8

Orbital filling notation:

[Ar]

4s

3d

PARAMAGNETIC

ASSIGNMENT: QUANTUM NUMBERS AND ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

Complete the following table. An occupied shell, subshell or orbital contains at least one electron, but is not necessarily
filled.
Number of occupied:

1.

Symbol

Total #
of
electrons

Ground state electron configuration

Shells

Subshells

Orbitals

Diamagnetic
or
paramagnetic

F
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
V
Cu
[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p2
41

2.

What is the electron configuration of phosphorus (full and noble gas core)?

3.

What quantum numbers in phosphorus describe:

(a) The 1st electron
(b) The 5th electron
(c) The 11th electron

4.

Identify the atoms with the following quantum numbers of the last electron in that atom:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
n=3
n=3
n=5
n=4
n=4
l=1
l=2
l=0
l=2
l=3
ml = 0
ml = +1
ml = 0
ml = -1
ml = +2
ms = +
ms = -
ms = +
ms = -
ms = +

(f)
n=2
l=1
ml = +1
ms = -

5.

What is the maximum number of electrons in a single atom that can have a set of quantum numbers containing the
following?
(10, 2, 32, 14, 6, 14, 2)
(e) n = 5, l = 1
(a) n = 3, l = 2
(f) n= 5, l = 3
(b) n= 3, l = 1, ml = -1
(c) n = 4
(g) n = 5, l = 3, ml = 0
(d) n= 4, l = 3

6.

In the ground state of krypton (36) how many electrons have ml = +1 as one of their quantum numbers?

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UNIT 5

CH. 7

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Quantum Mechanics

7.

How many electrons have l = 1 as one of their quantum numbers?

8.

Describe how the ground state electron configurations of the elements of a period compare to one another and how the
ground state electronic configurations of the elements of a group are related.

9.

Identify the atoms that have the following ground state electron configurations in their outer shell or shells. (Be careful
you must notice something first)
(d) 4s2 4p6 5s2
(a) 5s2 5p2
(b) 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s2
(e) 5s2 5p5
2
6
10
2
(c) 4s 4p 4d 5s

ELECTRON CONFIGURATION EXCEPTIONS

Sometimes the electron configuration of an element is not what you expect it to be. This is due to the need for stability. An
atom will change its configuration to become more stable. An electron may move from one sublevel to another if it makes
the atom more stable.
IN ORDER OF STABILITY: full shell > full subshell > filled subshell > no arrangement
These exceptions occur in the transition metals where the d subshells are incompletely filled.
Ex: chromium #24:
Expected configuration: [Ar] 4s2 3d4
Actual configuration
[Ar] 4s1 3d5
1 electron from 4s is shifted between 2 very closely spaced sublevels 4s and 3d. The atom assumes the new configuration
because 2 half-filled subshells are more stable than 1 full subshell and one subshell with no special arrangement. These
exceptions normally occur only in the 3d and 4d sublevels because the 4s and 3d and the 5s and 4d sublevels are very close
in energy level. Exceptions do not occur in the 5d and 6d sublevels (except for Au #79) because 6s and 5d are not close in
energy levels. There is a 4f sublevel between them which shields the 6s electrons and prevents them from shifting to a much
higher energy level.
Only other exceptions in the transition elements are Cu (29), Mo (42), Ag (47) and Au (79). (Others will not be studied.)

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Quantum Mechanics

EXERCISE:
1. Determine the expected and actual configuration of the copper (#29) the molybdenum atom (#42), and the silver atom (47).
Explain the reason for each.
2.

Without adding up the number of electrons in the configurations below, give the group number for the elements that have
the electron configurations: Identify the element.
a) 1s2 2s2 2p1
b) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
c) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s1

d) [Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d8

RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ELEMENTS

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS AND POINTS:
Valence electrons These are the outermost level electrons of an atom which are the ones involved in chemical bonding. The
group number for A GROUP elements determines the number of valence electrons in an atom. All the transition elements have 2
valence electrons determined by the outermost level electrons. The valence electrons are the s and p sublevel electrons only.
GROUP
1A Alkali metals
2A Alkaline Earth metals
3A
7A Halogens
3B
7B

EXAMPLE
Na #11
Sr #38
In #49
I #53
Sc #21
Re #75

e- CONFIGURATION
[Ne] 1s1
[Kr] 5s2
[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p1
[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p5
[Ar] 4s2 3d1
[Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d5

1
2
3
7
2
2

# VALENCE e-s
(from 1s)
(from 5s)
(from 5s and 5p)
(from 5s and 5p)
(from 4s)
(from 6s)

EXERCISE: How many valence electrons are there in each of the following atoms?
N (#7), Nb (#41), Sb (#51), Hg (#80), V (#23), W (#74), Y (39).
FORMING IONS FROM ATOMS
IMPORTANT: METALS LOSE ELECTRONS TO FORM CATIONS; NON-METAL ATOMS GAIN ELECTRONS
TO FORM ANIONS.
We will now use the electron configuration and number of valence electrons to determine the charge of the cations and anions
formed by different elements depending on their location in the periodic table.
RULES FOR DETERMINING CHARGES OF CATIONS AND ANIONS

Atoms can combine by gaining or losing electrons in order to gain an inert gas configuration.

FOR THE A GROUP ELEMENTS: The electrons involved in bonding are the HIGHEST OUTER LEVEL
ELECTRONS(THE VALENCE ELECTRONS) (not the highest energy sublevel e-s) These are the s and p
sublevel electrons only).

The order of electron filling does not determine or predict the order of electron removal for transition metals.
The transition metals lose the highest energy outer level electrons first (s electrons), and then they can lose d
sublevel electrons one at a time.
You will use the electron configuration of the atom to write the electron configuration of the cation or anion.
IONS DERIVED FROM REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENTS (Group 1A to 7A)
Na+: [He] 2s2 2p6
Na: [Ne] 3s1
2
Ca: [Ar] 4s
Ca2+: [Ne] 3s2 3p6
2
1
Al3+: [He] 2s2 2p6
Al: [Ne] 3s 3p
In forming anions, one or more electrons are added to the highest partially filled n shell.
H-: 1s2 or [He]
H: 1s1
2
2
5
F: 1s 2s 2p
F-: 1s2 2s2 2p6 or [Ne]
O2-: 1s2 2s2 2p6 or [Ne]
O: 1s2 2s2 2p4
2
2
3
N: 1s 2s 2p
N3-: 1s2 2s2 2p6 or [Ne]

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UNIT 5

CH. 7

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Quantum Mechanics

All of these anions have stable noble gas configurations. Notice that F-, Na+, and Ne (and Al3+, O2-, and N3-) have the same
electron configuration. They are said to be isoelectronic because they have the same number of electrons, and hence the same
ground state electron configuration. H- and He are also isoelectronic. F- is isoelectronic to Ne.
CATIONS DERIVED FROM TRANSITION METALS
You have seen that the 4s orbital is filled before the 3d. Consider the Mn2+ ion. Mn: [Ar] 4s2 5d5. When the Mn2+ ion is formed,
you might expect the 2 electrons to be removed from the 3d orbitals to explain the 2+. This would give a configuration of [Ar]4s2
3d3. The true configuration of Mn2+ is [Ar] 3d5. Where the 4s is always filled before the 3d orbital in Mn, electrons are removed
from the 4s orbital in forming Mn2+ because the 3d orbital is more stable than the 4s orbital in transition metal ions. Therefore,
when a cation is formed from an atom of a transition metal, electrons are always removed first from the highest energy s orbitals
first and then from the d orbital one at a time. As a result, Mn forms cations with charges of +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, and +7.
ASSIGNMENT: Explain the following oxidation number(s) of the elements given. Write the electron configuration of
each element first. Which sublevel electrons are gained or lost and explain fully why.
1. Na: +1
2.

Ba: +2

3.

B: +3

4.

Carbon: +2, +4, and 4.

5.

Sulfur: -2.

6.

Vanadium: +2, +3, +4, +5.

7.

Iron (26) forms 2 cations, +2 and +3.

a) Explain how and why each is formed.

8.

b)

Which cation do you expect to be formed most often or will both be formed equally? Give reasons for your
answer.

c)

Why does Fe4+ not form?

How would you explain the oxidation numbers of the following atoms?
a) Sn (50) +2 and +4.

b)

Pb (82) +2 and +4.

DO ASSIGNMENT #4: P. 342 #75 78, 80, 82

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