Notation

[Jesse_torres2H]

Can someone explain the notation that involves px1 py1 and pz1. In what cases do we write the configuration like this.

[Hannah Chew 2A]

It is just to indicate the specific orbital within a sub shell. Normally, you would just write p3, but if you wanted to specify that there are three different orbitals lying along the x,y,z axis, then you would write px py pz. Both are acceptable unless otherwise stated.

[Lily Guo 1D]

Px, Py, and Pz are simply the three orbitals in the P subshell (the three horizontal lines we draw). You don't necessarily need to write them out; usually we would just write P2, P3, etc. P(however many electrons are in the P subshell).

[Salma Quintanilla 1J]

I think that the only time we have write out this fully is when we are asked to write out the full and complete (extended) electron configuration rather than just the ground state electron.

[Jessica Nunez 1I]

I don't think we need to write out the electron configuration in this notation unless it is asked. However, I think this notation is good just to see how orbitals are filled up.

[Michael Lee 2I]

You only need to write it out if the question needs the full electron configuration.

[Daniel Rivas 3L]

When you are writing out the electron configuration of an element, you only need to know that notation to make it more precise. But really, you don't need to worry about it too much.