Do you have to add the x,y, or z subscript when writing electron configurations?

[Omar Alami 3H]

For example, if we had to write an electron configuration that includes 2p^1, would we have to write it 2px^1? In the lecture yesterday he did for some but not for others so I wasn't sure.

[Sarah Hong 2K]

I believe you only use the x,y,z subscript when the level isn't completely full, but if it is you can just do 2p^6. If it is not full go one by one like 2px^1

[cherublina1l]

i thought it was just a measure of specificity but not required? to be honest, i don't know how to know which one to write. is it always in the order of x,y,z?

[Nicola Higgins 14B]

I'm confused about this too. For example, for Carbon's electron configuration, would it be [He] 2s^2,2p^2 ? or would it be [He] 2s^2, 2px^1, 2py^1 ?

[tashyavakil 2K]

I went to a workshop and I think you only specify up to what the question is saying. Some questions only ask you to specify up until s,p,d, f, and some questions may ask you to give the x,y,z. I saw a problem where it gave you the n, l, ml, so in that case, you would have to.

[Sonia Virk 2A]

My understanding of it is that the x, y, and z make it more specific and shows that we know exactly the spin of each electron and the pairing but if it doesn't say to use it, I don't think we have to. 3p^5 is the same as 3px^2 3py^2 3pz^1