Noble Gas Configuration

[Nathan Tong 3G]

If you were to write the electron configuration for a noble gas element, would it be appropriate to use the noble gas configuration? For example, could you write Argon as just [Ar], or would you need to write it from the previous noble gas, [Ne]3s²3p⁶?

[Will Pham 1J]

I believe you have to write it from the previous noble gas.

[SashaAnand2J]

Either method is appropriate to represent the ground state electron configuration of noble gases, although arguably, as you mentioned, putting just the noble gas would be vague. I'm sure if a question as you mentioned came up in a test, Dr. Lavelle would specify whether to write the short-hand or complete electron configuration. For the excited states of such elements, you should use the previous noble gas and complete the electron configuration from there!

[Hannah Alltucker 3L]

Yes, you need to write it based on the previous noble gas. I think it may have something to do with the importance of the configuration of valence electrons in reactions, which is why they use the previous noble gas and then just write the valence level out (not that noble gasses are very reactive or anything, but that's just how it is for every other element)

[Jaden Kwon 3C]

I think doing either is fine, but if you are asked to write the electron configuration of a noble gas you should use the previous noble gas or write the entire configuration as the question is testing you on writing electron configurations.

[Emma_Barrall_3J]

I believe either is fine. It should probably be specified on a test. Also, if you are really unsure on a test, you could write out the full configuration--which is never incorrect.

[Elizabeth Kaplan 3I]

Technically, both are correct, but simply writing [Ar] doesn't show your knowledge of writing out electron configurations, so the test will probably specify to either use the previous noble gas or write out the entire electron configuration without using a noble gas.

[Inderpal Singh 2L]

I would stick to the previous noble gas or just writing out the whole configuration to be safe.

[Juwan_Madaki_3K]

By looking at both options, they do make sense. However, just putting [Ar] may be a little vague or confusing. I think you should stick with starting from [Ne] and writing the remaining configurations.

[Kimiya Aframian IB]

If you were to write the electron configuration for a noble gas element, would it be appropriate to use the noble gas configuration? For example, could you write Argon as just [Ar], or would you need to write it from the previous noble gas, [Ne]3s²3p⁶?

Hi! I think that either way should work. In some of the textbook solutions they use noble gas configuration for some of the ions even though it would be the same as a noble gas itself (ex. writing K+ as [Ne]). I don't think Lavelle would mark us wrong if he doesn't specify exactly. Hope this helps!

[Cooper_Geralds_3B]

Hi, going off of your question, I am wondering if anyone has a trick or anything on how they remember how to do electron configurations for different compounds?

[Ximeng Guo 2K]

Better to write a complete configuration. But I don't think we will encounter this type of question.

[Malakai Espinosa 3E]

Like everyone else I said I'm sure it's not a huge deal which way you write. However, I would just write it with the previous noble gas just to be safe.

[Aria Movassaghi 1A]

Doing either format should be fine unless specified in a question