Electron configuration
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Electron configuration
When writing the electron configuration, should it always be in a specific order?
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Re: Electron configuration
Hello, we generally write the electron configuration in order of increasing energy levels. This is usually a formality and can also help with determining the electron configuration of ions.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
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Re: Electron configuration
Rule of thumb is to write it in increasing principle quantum numbers/shells (n). For ordering subshells, the general order is: s < p < d < f.
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Re: Electron configuration
There are some exceptions though, like Cr and Cu. These atoms have lower energy when their d orbital is half full (Cr) or completely full (Cu) and use an electron from the 4s subshell. For example, Cr has an electron configuration of [Ar] 3d^54s^1. Period 5 also shows the same trend.
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Re: Electron configuration
When writing electron configurations, you write them from lowest energy to highest energy (which also is left to right, top to bottom across the periodic table like reading a book). For example, 1s^2 would be before 2s^2 because 1 had a lower energy than 2 and the 1s block is above the 2s block.
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Re: Electron configuration
When writing electron configurations, you should write in increasing energy levels. To be exact, yes there is a specific order to write it.
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Re: Electron configuration
When writing electron configurations you write starting from the lowest energy level to the higher energy levels. For example, you write the s orbital before the p orbital.
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Re: Electron configuration
We write electron configuration in increasing energy levels, so s then p then d then f. There are exceptions like Cu where you get [Ar] 3d10 4s1 because it is more energetically favorable to have a full d-orbital (half fill or completely filled d orbitals are the most stable so we try to get that configuration if we can).
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Re: Electron configuration
Typically you write it in increasing energy levels. So you would write the s level before the p level. Also, typically you would want to write it in increasing shell level. For example: [Ar] 3d10, 4s2, 4p3
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