ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

AND ORBITAL DIAGRAM

Objectives:
• Write the electron configuration of an atom
• Draw an orbital diagram to represent the electronic
configuration of atoms
• Recognize the importance of orbital diagram and electronic
configuration of atoms
WHAT IS ELECTRONIC
CONFIGURATION?
Electronic configuration, also called electronic
structure or electron configuration, the arrangement
of electrons in orbitals around an atomic nucleus. The
electronic configuration of an atom in the quantum-
mechanical model is stated by listing the occupied
orbitals, in order of filling, with the number of electrons
in each orbital indicated by superscript.
Rules to consider in writing the electron
configuration of an atom:
1. Aufbau Principle
• The orbitals are arranged in order of increasing energy based on the
principal energy levels and the sublevels where they are in.
• The relative energies of these orbitals are determined by the values
of the following n+l rule (“n” refers to the energy level while “l”
refers to the sublevels with the following numeric values: s=0, p=1,
d=2, f=3).
• The higher the value of n+l, the higher the energy of the orbital.
• For orbitals with the same value for n+l, the orbital with the lower
value for n has a lower relative energy.
Aufbau’s Principle
Aufbau (German aufbauen, “to build up”) principle tells us
that electrons fill the orbitals in the order of increasing
their energy level. Remember, the main energy level is
given by the principal quantum number, n, and it increases
down the periodic table.
Here is a chart on the energy levels for up n = 4
which include the d sublevel:
 Consider also that
within
the same principal
level, orbitals with a
lower value of l have
lower energy (E) and
therefore, are filled
first.

So, for a given value of n:

E (s orbital) < E ( p orbital) < E (d orbital) < E ( f orbital)
Notice that in the periodic table, it is opposite to what we
show on the energy level diagram since the periods
indicate the principal quantum number (n), which is the
energy level, and they increase as we go down the
periodic table. The general order for filling the electrons
based on the energy levels and orbitals can be shown as
in the picture below:
Let’s look at a few examples of following the Aufbau principle.
For example, hydrogen has one electron and of course, we are
going to put it in the 1s orbital it has the lowest energy.
The electron configuration of He with orbital diagrams
can be shown as:
Next, we have helium, He – the
second element in the periodic
table. Remember, the number
of electrons is equal to the
atomic number as the number
of electrons must be equal to the
number of electrons in a neutral
atom. Therefore, He has two
electrons and they both go to
the 1s level because each
orbital, regardless of if it
is s, p, d, or f, can only
accommodate a maximum of
two electrons, and
they wouldn’t go to the 2s level
without filling the 1s:
The electron configuration of He with orbital
diagrams can be shown as:
Rules to consider in writing the electron
configuration of an atom:
2.Pauli’s Exclusion Principle
• It states that no two electrons in an atom can
have the same set of four quantum numbers. This
means no atomic orbital can contain more than
TWO electrons and these electrons must be of
opposite spin if they are to form a pair within an
orbital.
Pauli’s Exclusion Principle
Notice that the arrow representing the second electron is pointing
down, opposite to the first arrow which indicates that they must
have opposite spins. This is according to the Pauli exclusion
principle which states that no two electrons in an atom can have
the same four quantum numbers. So, if the electrons are in the
same orbital, they must have the same n, l, ml values, and
therefore, the only one that can be different is the ms which is the
spin of the electron shown by the position of the arrow.
For example, for the electrons in a 2p orbital, n =
2, l = 1. and ml = –1, 0, or +1 (doesn’t matter which
one because for the same orbital it will be
identical). Therefore, the ms must be different
(+1/2 or -1/2) so we don’t violate Pauli’s exclusion
principle.
The principle applies to all the orbitals. For example, notice how the
electrons in each p orbital of oxygen, fluorine, and neon are with
opposite spins:
Rules to consider in writing the electron
configuration of an atom:

3.Hund’s Rule
• Hund's rule states that:
a.Every orbital in a sublevel is singly occupied
before any orbital is doubly occupied.
b.All of the electrons in singly occupied orbitals
have the same spin (to maximize total spin).
Hund’s Rule
To understand Hund’s tule, let’s first write the electron
configuration of boron:

Now, the next election, which indicates carbon, is going to

have the option of pairing up with the one in the p orbital
or going to the next empty p orbital. And it turns out that
the electron goes to the next (empty) p orbital rather than
fitting in with the other electron.
This is the Hund’s rule, which states
that electrons will fill all the degenerate orbitals
(equal in energy) with parallel spins (both
arrows up or down) first before pairing up in
one orbital. We can also formulate it as the
lowest energy configuration for an atom is the
one having the maximum number of unpaired
electrons within the same energy sublevel.
Hund’s rule is another demonstration of
the same principle which is the tendency
to adopt the lowest energy state possible.
There is a stronger repulsive interaction
between two electrons in the same orbital
compared to when they occupy separate
orbitals of equal energy.
Notice that placing the electron unpaired in the 3s orbital is also
incorrect because, it is important to mention, that Hund’s rule applies
to electrons in the same energy level. We are not going to place one
of the electrons in the 3s orbital just for the sake of keeping a maximum
number of unpaired electrons. It is energetically more favorable to have
the electrons in the same lower sublevel rather than separating them
by placing one in a higher energy level.
We can also demonstrate this using the orbital
diagram of carbon:
As expected, the next element, nitrogen will place the
additional electron in the 3rd p orbital which is empty in
carbon.
To summarize, remember that:
•The Aufbau principle is about filling the orbitals
from lower to higher energy
•Pauli’s exclusion principle tells us to place
the arrows of electrons in the same orbital
in opposite directions.
•Hund’s rule tells us to place the electrons in
different orbitals of the same energy sublevel (s,
p, d, f) rather than pairing them up – more
unpaired electrons is better.