Ground State Electron Configuration

[505817975]

How do you find the ground state electron configuration for an atom?

[505749458]

Finding electron configuration just requires memorizing how to follow the periodic table's organization of the s, p, d, and f blocks. Once you learn to do that, the ground state electron configuration is just the default configuration for that element as it is modeled on the periodic table (you do not find the adjacent electron configurations as you do with charged atoms). Here's a helpful video to explain the rules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIwcDnFjj98

[Anne Mariano 3F]

To add to the post above, you would follow the periodic table chart I attached below and follow the blocks to write the electron configuration. The order of electron configuration would look go in this order 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f and so on.

[Chris Van 2J]

The ground state electron configuration can be computed based off the s, p, d, and f subshell. Once you know the order of the subshells, you are able to virtually find the ground state electron configuration for any element.

[Samantha Quevedo 2L]

Also, apart from what everyone else has suggested, you find the ground state electron configuration of an atom with the diagonal rule!

[605721741]

Atoms like Copper and Cobalt are exceptions with 4s1, 3d5 ground state electron configurations!

[605721741]

Atoms like Copper and Cobalt are exceptions with 4s1, 3d5 ground state electron configurations!

[Andrea_Perez_2F]

So the ground state for an electron is it at its lowest energy so it is not excited at this moment. It is different than charges. To find this you will find the atom on the periodic table and typically start with writing the noble gas of the period above it. You will first begin by filling up the s orbital then p then d and finally f. Two electrons for s, 6 for p, 10 for d, and 14 for f.

[Andrea_Perez_2F]

So the ground state for an electron is it at its lowest energy so it is not excited at this moment. It is different than charges. To find this you will find the atom on the periodic table and typically start with writing the noble gas of the period above it. You will first begin by filling up the s orbital then p then d and finally f. Two electrons for s, 6 for p, 10 for d, and 14 for f.

[LouiseLin2L]

You will need to find the atom's place within the periodic table and count up the shells. And to save time, you can start by the noble gas before the atom which you are interested in. In most cases, you fill up the s orbital, then p, then d. Two exceptions Professor talked about in class are chromium and copper who has 4s1 instead of filled s orbital.