ELECTRONS

AND THEIR
ARRANGEMENT
CHEM

Questions:
The three atoms have
similar reactivity and
chemical behavior.
1. Where are the elements
located on the periodic
table?
2. What do you think might
be responsible for their
similar properties?
CHEM
DISCUSSION
• What similarities exist between atoms of lithium, sodium, and
potassium?
• What feature of the Bohr model might account for the similar
properties of these three elements?
• How many protons and neutrons does each atom have? How
do you know?
• Do the diagrams show the correct number of electrons? How
do you know?
• Count the electrons in each “shell”. How are the electrons
arranged?
CHEM
The two drawings show two ways of representing the electron
arrangement of the element calcium, Ca.

1. Name at least two differences in these drawings.

2. Name at least two similarities in these drawings.

LIFE ON THE EDGE -ACTIVITY

Purpose:
• Niels Bohr recognize that the various physical and
chemical properties of the elements could be traced
to electrons.
• You will be looking at electron arrangements in order
to begin to answer the questions:
“What accounts for the similar chemistry of
elements in the same group?”
HISTORY OF THE ATOM REVISITED:
FOCUS ON ELECTRONS

• Who discovered the electron?

• What was his experiment?
PROBLEMS WITH THOMSON
MODEL
Didn’t say anything about
• The numbers of protons and neutrons and electrons
• Their arrangement in the atom
• The ease at which atoms are stripped of electrons to
form ions (allows them to bond with other atoms)
ERNST RUTHERFORD

• What did he discover?

• What were the features of his model?
PROBLEMS WITH RUTHERFORD’S
PLANETARY MODEL
Opposites attract right?
What would keep the electrons from being drawn to the
positive nucleus? Wouldn’t the atom just collapse?

You bet!!!
NIELS BOHR
• Studied under Rutherford
• Proposed that electrons are arranged in concentric
circular paths or orbits around the nucleus
• Modeled after the pattern of the planets around the
sun (addition to Rutherford’s the planetary model)
WHAT DID THIS MODEL
ANSWER?
What prevented the electrons from falling
into the nucleus?
• Electrons have a “fixed energy” in a
particular path around the nucleus.
– Like rungs of a ladder (The levels do not move!
But electrons can jump up and down the rungs)
WHAT IS AN ENERGY LEVEL?
= the region around the nucleus where an electron is
likely to be moving

AKA Shell, represented by the letter “n” (standing for

quantum number)

Just like a ladder, an electron can move up or down the

levels but cannot be in between the energy levels (you
cannot stand in between rungs, right?)

To move up or down an energy level an electron must

gain or lose the correct amount of energy.
A QUANTUM OF ENERGY
= the amount of energy required to move an electron
from its present energy level to the next higher one

All energies are said to be “quantized”

The amount of energy gained or lost is not always the

same between levels.
 BOHR’S ENERGY LEVELS
Electrons fill the lower-energy levels before filling the
higher levels

1st shell (n= 1)

maximum of 2 electrons can exist,

considered filled and additional
electrons must occupy a new shell

2nd shell (n=2)

maximum of 8 electrons can exist

3rd shell (n=3)

maximum of 18 electrons can exist

NOTE ABOUT SHELLS

The period number can help you determine how many

shells or rings an atom will have, using the Bohr model.

Period 1= 1 shell/ring
Period 2= 2 shells/rings
Period 3= 3 shells/rings

Etc.
VALENCE AND CORE
ELECTRONS
Elements in the same group have the same number of
electrons in the outermost shells.

This outermost shell that electrons occupy is very

important in chemistry and is referred to as the
valence shell.

The electrons that are located in that outermost shell

are called valence electrons.

The electrons located in all of the inner shells combined

are called core electrons.
HOW MANY VALENCE
ELECTRONS?
Group 1A

Group 2A

Group 3A

Group 4A

Group 5A

Group 6A
CHECK-IN
Provide the following information for the element
number 34.
a. The element’s name and symbol
b. The number of protons in the nucleus
c. The total number of electrons for this element
d. The number of core electrons for this element
e. The number of valence electrons for this element
f. The group number for this element
g. The names of other elements with similar chemistry
ELECTRON
ENERGY AND
LIGHT
 ISAAC NEWTON (1642-1727)
• Thought of light as consisting of particles

LOUIS DE BROGLIE (1892-

• 1987)
Suggested that light has both wave and particle
characteristics
• Most subatomic particles behave as PARTICLES and obey
PARTS OF A WAVE
wavelength

Amplitude

wavelength
Node
WAVES
• All waves have a wavelength
= distance between the peaks on a wave
Represented by the greek letter “lambda”, λ
Unit = meter

• All waves have an amplitude

=the distance between the center of a wave and
the crest of a peak

• All waves have a node

=the center point of the wave
WAVES
• Waves have a frequency
= cycles per second
Represented with the greek letter “nu”, ν
Unit = “per second”, 1/s or s-1 OR Hertz (hz) – SI
unit

• All electromagnetic radiation moves at the same

speed.

λxν=c
 EXAMPLE

Calculate the wavelength of the yellow light

emitted by a sodium lamp if the frequency of the
radiation is 5.10 x 1014 s-1
 EXAMPLE 2

Calculate the frequency of the yellow light

emitted by a sodium lamp if the wave length of
the radiation is 2.2 x 10-7 m
 RECALL
• Long wavelengths 🡪 small frequency (less energy)
• Short wavelengths🡪 high frequency (more energy)

increasing
frequency

increasing
wavelength
ATOMIC LINE EMISSION
SPECTRA AND NIELS BOHR
• Bohr’s simple model of that atom was based on an
understanding of the line emission spectra of excited
atoms.
BOHR MODEL ELECTRONS

1
.

Step 1. Energy is absorbed. Electron

moves to higher energy level (ground
2.
state to excited state)
BOHR MODEL ELECTRONS

Step 2. Energy (as a specific wavelength of

light) is emitted when electron moves from
that
1.
higher energy level back to the lower
ground state.

2.
SPECTRUM OF WHITE LIGHT

• Excited atoms emit light at certain wavelengths

• The wavelengths of the emission depend on the
element
LINE SPECTRA OF ELEMENTS
MODERN
THEORY OF
ELECTRONS
ELECTRONS AS WAVES, QUANTUM MECHANIC
MODEL
ERWIN SCHRODINGER (1887-
1961)
•Schrodinger applied the idea of electrons behaving as
a wave to the problem of electrons in atoms.
• He developed the wave equation, which gives us math
expressions called wave functions in which the
allowed energy state for each electron can be
calculated.
WERNER HEISENBERG (1901-
1976)
• Solved problem of defining nature of electrons in
atoms

Uncertainty principle = you cannot simultaneously

define the position and the momentum (=mass x
velocity) of an electron

We define electron energy exactly but accept limitation

that we do not know the exact position of the electron
QUANTUM MECHANIC MODEL
nucleus
• Based on the mathematical
principles of Schrodinger and the
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

• Places electrons in orbitals, or

probability zones (90% chance of
finding an electrons within that
area)
orbitals
 QUANTUM NUMBERS
The energy/size, shape, and orientation of each orbital is
a function of 3 quantum numbers which describe the
location of an electron within an atom or ion

n(principal) 🡪 energy level

l (orbital) 🡪 shape of orbital
ml (magnetic) 🡪designates a particular suborbital
 ARRANGEMENT OF
ELECTRONS IN ATOMS
• Electrons in atoms are arranged as

Energy Levels (=n)

Sublevels (=l)

Orbitals (=ml)
PRINCIPLE QUANTUM NUMBER
(=N)
“n”-refers to a major or principle energy level in an atom

= Refers to the size of the orbital

n= 1,2,3,4…..
because average distance from the nucleus increases by
the value of n

Currently n can only be 1 through 7 because there are 7

periods on our updated periodic table.
REMEMBER WE ALSO CALL
THESE SHELLS!
They include all of the orbitals (area where
an electron is most likely to exist) with the
same energy level
RELATIVE SIZE OF ENERGY
LEVEL
SUBSHELL (AKA SUBLEVEL,
=L)
• Within a shell, there are subshells that describe the
shape of the orbital.
• There are same number of sublevels as the principal
quantum number (n)

• Types of subshells:
s (“sphere”), p (“dumbbell”), d (“pear-shaped
lobe”), f, etc…goes on to infinite subshells
 THE SHELL
N=1
• Energy level n=1 (size is very close to
nucleus as this is the smallest energy level)
• Maximum number of electrons allowed = 2 at
this level
• Sublevels at this energy level = 1s (has only
one!)
 An example of an S orbital.
They are sphere in shape, but can be bigger or
smaller depending on their energy level.

Each energy level has

only ONE s orbital because you can only orient a
sphere one direction in 3D space.
 THE SHELL
N=2
• Energy level n=2 (size is larger/farther from
nucleus than the n=1 shell)
• Maximum number of electrons allowed = 8
at this level
• Sublevels at this energy level = 2s , 2p (has
two!)
 An example of P orbitals
They are shaped like dumbbells.
For each energy level there are 3 different p
orbitals (oriented in different directions in
3D space).
 THE SHELL
N=3
• Energy level n=3 (size is larger/farther from the
nucleus than the n=2 shell)
• Maximum number of electrons allowed = 18 at
this level
• Sublevels at this energy level = 3s , 3p, 3d (has
three!)
 An example of what shape D orbitals
They are shaped like pear-shaped lobes or
perpendicular dumbbells.
There are 5 different orbitals oriented in
different directions in 3D space.
 THE SHELL
N=4
• Energy level n=4 (size is larger/farther from the
nucleus than the n=3 shell)
• Maximum number of electrons allowed = 32 at
this level
• Sublevels at this energy level = 4s , 4p, 4d, 4f
(has four!)
An example of what shape F orbitals would
be…
It is made up of 7 different shaped smaller
orbitals oriented in different directions in
3D space.
ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS

= the way that we represent or describe how

many and in which orbitals electrons exist within
an atom
HOW TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF
ELECTRONS IN AN ATOM (REVIEW)

The atomic number = the number of protons

In a neutral atom, the number of protons must equal

the number of electrons

(because # positive - # negative = 0 charge)

 THERE ARE THREE RULES TO USE WHEN
DETERMINING ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS

1) Aufbau’s Principle
=electrons enter orbitals of lowest energy first
(start at shell n=1 with subshell 1s)
2) Pauli Exclusion Principle
=an orbital contains a max. of 2 electrons
spinning in opposite directions due to repulsion
3) Hund’s Rule
=one electron must fill each orbital of the same
type before they can pair up
WRITING ELECTRON
CONFIGURATIONS
• Write all sublevels horizontally with exponents
for the number of electrons in all orbitals of
each sublevel
 How many electrons can be in a
sublevel?
Remember: A maximum of two electrons can be
placed in an orbital (Pauli Exclusion Principle)

s p d f
Number orbitals orbitals orbitals orbitals
of
orbitals
Number
of
electrons
WRITING ELECTRON
CONFIGURATIONS

2p 6
Number of
electrons in the
Energy sublevel
Level
Sublev
el
Electron Configuration of Ba:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2
DETERMINING
ELECTRON
CONFIGURATION
TWO WAYS TO DETERMINE THESE…YOU
CHOOSE WHICH TO USE
AUFBAU DIAGRAM
Write this chart down!
# of electrons
allowed in each subshell

2 6 10 14 18 22
1s
Order in which
you fill the 2s 2p
subshells
(start at top
3s 3p 3d
and go at a 4s 4p 4d 4f
diagonal until
you run out of 5s 5p 5d 5f 5g
electrons)
6s 6p 6d 6f 6g 6n
7s 7p 6d 7f 7g 7n
 If you had a total of 2 electrons in your atom…
To use the chart: use the maximum number of electrons
at the top to count down to zero, filling each orbital as you
go. Write the number of electrons in each suborbital as a
superscript.
2 6 10 14 18 22
1s The electron
configuration would
2s 2p be 1s2 for an atom
with 2 electrons.
3s 3p 3d
4s 4p 4d 4f
5s 5p 5d 5f 5g
6s 6p 6d 6f 6g 6n
 If you had a total of 3 electrons in your
atom…
This takes care of 2 electrons….one electron goes into in the
next orbital

2 6 10 14 18 22
Therefore the electro
1s configuration is 1s22s
2s 2p
3s 3p 3d
4s 4p 4d 4f
5s 5p 5d 5f 5g
6s 6p 6d 6f 6g 6n
THE PERIODIC TABLE WAY
Each sublevel is filled according to placement
on the periodic table
(works because as you go across PT, number
of electrons increases by one b/c
protons=electrons for atoms)

S P
D

F
Write in the
following S D P
orbital F
numbers and
arrows on
your previous
drawing
EXAMPLE
Oxygen is number 8 on the periodic table, meaning it has 8
electrons
o

1. Locate oxygen on the periodic table (look at

yours)
2. Starting from 1s, list all of the orbitals you
encounter (from left to right, top to bottom)
until you arrive at the correct element
1s
 EXAMPLE CONTINUED
o
3. Each block (element) on
the periodic table
represents ONE electron in
that particular orbital.
Count the number in each
orbital and write it as a
superscript.
4. Add the superscripts. They
Orbitals:
should equal the number of
1s: has Hydrogen =1electron and helium = 1 electron
electrons.
so it is 1s2
2s: has lithium (1 e-) and berylllium (1e-) so it is 1s2 2s2
2p: has boron, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen (4 e-s) so final
answer is Check: 2+2+4
CHECK-IN
Write the electron configurations for the following
elements.
a. Carbon

b. Calcium
ORBITAL
NOTATION
DRAWING THE ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS
DRAWING ORBITAL NOTATION
• We will draw orbitals one sublevel at a
time (bottom to top)

• Draw a line ( ) to represent each

orbital

• Draw arrows to represent electrons (

) (following hund’s rule)
5s _
When drawing orbital
4p _ __ notation, you would use
3d _ ____ the filling order of orbitals
but write it vertically up
4s _ the page.
3p _ __ Do not write in the
3s _ orbitals that electrons do
not use.
2p _ __
2s _
1s _
 Draw the orbital notation for
Lithium
(An atom of Lithium has 3 electrons)
We always start at the 1s orbital and
work our way up (low energy to high
2s energy-- Aufbaugh’s
Principle)
1s
Notes:
An arrow represents an electron.
Make sure to fill the orbitals according to Pauli Exclusionary
Principle you must only place 2 electrons per orbital (line).
According to Hund’s rule you must place one electron in each
orbital of the same energy level before pairing them up.
Draw the orbital notation for
Fluorine
(An atom of Fluorine has 9 electrons)

2p

2s

1s
NOBLE GAS
CONFIGURATI
ON
AKA SHORTHAND CONFIGURATION
A shortcut to writing electron configurations using
Group 8A
Group
8A
HOW TO DO IT…
We are only concerned about the valence electrons, so
we can skip the places we know are completely full
(noble gases) and then finish the configuration.

Step 1: Find the closest noble gas WITHOUT going

OVER the number of electrons for your atom (or ion).
Write its symbol in brackets [ ] —this takes care of
the electron configuration up to that point

Step 2: Complete the electron configuration for the

remainder of the element’s electrons
EXAMPLE
Chlorine
Longhand is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5

You can abbreviate the first 10

electrons with a noble gas = NEON

(This replaces that 1s2 2s2 2p6 part of

the electron configuration)
Answer = [Ne] 3s 2

Pick right back up with the remainder 3p 5

of the electron configuration after
CHECK-IN
Write the noble gas configurations for the following
elements.
a. K

b. I

c. Bi
DETERMINING
VALENCE
ELECTRONS FROM
CONFIGURATIONS
 VALENCE ELECTRONS
Electrons are divided between core and valence
electrons
B 1s2 2s2 2p1
Core = [He] , valence = 2s2 2p1

Br [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5

Core = [Ar] 3d10 , valence = 4s2 4p5

ELECTRON
CONFIGURATION
S FOR IONS
ATOMS VS. IONS
REVIEW

CATIONS ANIONS
• Positively charged • Negatively charged
• Electrons have been lost • Electrons have been
gained
Example: Calcium cation,
Ca+2 Example: Oxide anion, O-2

How many electrons does How many electrons does

a calcium cation have? an oxide anion have?
WHERE DO THE ELECTRONS
GO?
An electrons that are lost or gained should be added to
or removed from or from the highest energy level
TIN, A CATION EXAMPLE

Looking at its noble gas configurations:

• Atom = [Kr]5s24d105p2

Two possibilities for charge:

• Sn+2 ion: losing 2 electrons…. [Kr]5s24d10
• Sn+4 ion: losing 4 electrsons…[Kr]4d10
BROMINE, AN ANION EXAMPLE

Looking at its noble gas configurations:

• Atom = [Ar]4s23d104p5

Two possibilities for charge:

• Br-1: gained 1 electron…[Ar]4s23d104p6
 CHECK IN
• Write the longhand notation for the ions of
these elements
F
Mg

• Write the shorthand notation for the ions of

these elements:
O
Al
ISOELECTRONIC ELEMENTS
= are atoms or ions that have the same electron
configurations.

For example:
An ion of Sulfur (S-2) has the same electron configuration as
the noble gas Argon

S-2 : has gained 2 electrons…16+2=18 total electrons

1s22s22p63s23p4+2=6
Ar: has 18 electrons
EXCEPTIONS TO
ELECTRON
CONFIGURATION
S
(HONORS ONLY)
EXCEPTIONS-TRANSITION
ELEMENTS
Typically, Aufbau principle can be applied to all elements
(order of filling from low🡪high energy)

Exceptions: due to subtle electron interactions,

sometimes the lower energy orbitals do not have to be
filled to put an electron in a higher orbital, giving them
better stability

These exceptions tend to occur when the configuration

ends in any of the following ways: d4, d9, f6, or f13.
TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
OCCURS…
It is important to realize that…
1. Completely filled sublevels are more stable than
partially filled sublevels
2. A sublevel which is exactly half filled is more
stable than a partially filled sublevel which is not
half full
3. Electrons are lazy and will do whatever places
them in the lowest energy state = more stable
EXCEPTIONS CONTINUED
Example: Copper (24 electrons)
Configuration= 1s22s22p62s23p64s23d4

Having the (less than half) partially filled d sublevel is

actually less stable than doing this….

1s22s22p62s23p64s13d5

Taking one electron from the 4 s orbital and adding it to

the 3d orbital to make it hall full!
EXCEPTIONS CONTINUED
Example: Chromium (24 electrons)
Configuration= 1s22s22p62s23p64s23d9

Having the (less than half) partially filled d sublevel is

actually less stable than doing this….

1s22s22p62s23p64s13d10

Taking one electron from the 4 s orbital and adding it to

the 3d orbital to make it hall full!