ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

An atom is the smallest unit of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction and each atom
is made up of three types of particles, called protons, neutrons and electrons. In a neutral atom,
the number of positively charged protons is equal to the number of negatively charged electrons.
The atoms are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction between the positive nucleus and
the negative electrons.

Most of the mass of atoms is in the nucleus because protons and neutrons are almost 2000 times
heavier than electrons. Atoms of different elements have different masses because they have
different numbers of particles in their nucleus.

The atomic mass (Z) of an element is the number of protons in its atoms.

The mass number of an element is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons in the
nucleus of its atoms. For example, the mass number of oxygen is 16 as there are 8 protons plus 8
16
neutrons in the nucleus of each oxygen atom, and this can be written as 8O or O-16.

The three main particles in atoms are summarised in the table below.

PARTICLE WHERE IT IS SYMBOL RELATIVE CHARGE

FOUND
Proton Nucleus p+ +1
Neutron Nucleus n 0
Electron Orbiting the nucleus e– –1

ELECTRON SHELLS/ENERGY LEVELS

Electrons are arranged around the nucleus of each atom in layers. These have distinct energy
layers and are called shells or energy levels. These shells are numbered starting from the
nucleus.

Some chemists call these the K, L, M and N shells, although newer terminology refers to them as
energy levels 1 to 4. The first (K) shell is the shell closest to the nucleus.
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

Each shell (energy level) has a maximum possible number of electrons which is given by the
formula: Number of electrons = 2 n2 where n is the number of the shell (energy level), starting from
the nucleus, and is called the principal quantum number.

The maximum number of electrons in the outer shell of any atom is eight (an octet). This number of
electrons forms the most stable arrangement. The outermost electron shell is called the valence
electron shell.

Electron Shell/Energy Level Maximum Electrons Allowed

1 (K) 2
2 (L) 8
3 (M) 18
4 (N) 32

From this you can see that the:

 1st or innermost shell can only contain 1 or 2 electrons.

 2nd shell has a maximum of 8 electrons.
 3rd shell has a maximum of 18 electrons. However, for the first 20 elements, the ones you
will mainly deal with in this course, the 3rd shell will only have up to 8 electrons.
 4th shell has a maximum of 32 electrons.

ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

The electron configuration is a series of numbers which shows the number and arrangement of the
electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom of an element. For example, the electron configuration of
carbon is 2, 4. This tells us that each carbon atom has two electrons in the 1 st or innermost shell
and four electrons in the 2nd or outer shell. Notice that if you add up the numbers of the electron
configuration, you get the atomic number of the element. For example, for carbon, the electron
configuration is 2.4, and its atomic number is 6.

The properties of atoms, including their ability to form chemical bonds, can be explained by the
arrangement of electrons in the atom, particularly those in the outer valence shell. For most atoms,
the most stable arrangement of electrons in the valence shell is 8 electrons arranged as 4 pairs.
Atoms with an unstable outer valence shell will react readily, those with a stable outer shell will not
react. The electron configuration of the first 20 elements in the periodic table is shown on the next
page. Notice that as you move across a period in the periodic table (for example from lithium to
neon) and extra electron (and of course an extra proton as well) is added to the atoms of each
successive element. As one shell fills, the electrons go to the next shell – at each step you move
down a group, an extra shell is added (for example, lithium to sodium to potassium).
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

THE PERIODIC TABLE AND ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

The arrangement of elements in the modern periodic table is based on atomic number and electron
configuration. In each period in the table, an additional electron shell is added and being filled. For
example:

 In period 1, there are only 2 elements, hydrogen and helium, and the first electron shell is
being filled (maximum 2 electrons in the first shell).
 In period 2, from lithium to neon, the second electron shell is being filled. Neon is stable
with 8 electrons in its valence shell.
 In period 3, from sodium to argon, the third electron shell is being filled. Argon is stable with
8 electrons in its valence shell.

Each group of the periodic table contains elements with the same number of electrons in the outer
shell of their atoms. Therefore, they have the same valency (combining power) and similar
chemical properties.

Groups 1 2 13 1 1 16 1 18
4 5 7
Electrons in outer (valence) shell 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Valency 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 0
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

THE PERIODIC TABLE

The periodic table is a list of all the elements, arranged in order of their atomic numbers. The
table’s structure allows us to predict the properties of elements and what their atoms are likely to
do in a chemical reaction. The periodic table lists all the known elements in order of increasing
atomic number. The periodic table is shown below.

Every box within the table represents a different atomic number and therefore a different element.
Each element has its own characteristic symbol, such as Cl for Chlorine and Ag for silver.

Hydrogen (element symbol H) contains atoms that have only one proton and so it has the atomic
number 1. This makes hydrogen the first element of the periodic table. Ununoctium is the last, with
118 protons (atomic number 118).

This list of elements is arranged according to atomic number and in colours depending on the
number of electrons in the outer shell.
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

PERIODS AND GROUPS

The periodic table lists the elements according to their atomic number, but it also arranges them in
rows and columns.

The horizontal rows are called periods. They are numbered 1 to 7 and are shown below.

The vertical columns are called groups. Groups are numbered from 1 to 18. An older way of
numbering uses the roman numerals I to VIII as shown below.

This arrangement of periods and groups gives each element a specific spot in the table. For
example, oxygen (O) is in period 2, group 16. Chlorine (Cl) is in period 3, group 17 and potassium
(K) is in period 4, group 1.

The arrangement of the periodic table into columns and rows places elements with similar physical
and chemical properties in the same group. For example, group 2 contains beryllium, magnesium,
calcium, strontium and barium. These elements display all the physical properties typical of metals.
They react in much the same way as one another and form very similar compounds. Likewise,
group 17 contains fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. All these reactions also act in a similar
way in chemical reactions.

Hence, a group is a column in the periodic table, but it can also be thought of as a set of elements
that behave in very similar ways. This is useful as it allows you to predict what an element might do
by looking at other elements in the same group. For example, sodium is in Group 1 and burns
brightly in air. Potassium is also in group 1, so it too can be expected to burn brightly in air.
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

Likewise, sulfur, in group 16, can be expected to react in a very similar way to oxygen, which is
also in group 16.

SPECIAL BLOCKS

The periodic table also has three special blocks of elements known as the transition elements,
lanthanides and actinides. These blocks are shown below.

QUESTIONS

1. Complete the table to summarise the structure of atoms.

Particles in Where it is Symbol Relative charge Relative mass

atoms found
Nucleus p+ 1
Proton 1
Neutron n 1
Nucleus 0
Electron Electron Shell -1
e– 1/1835

2. Sodium is element 11 in the periodic table.

(a) What is the electron configuration of sodium.

2,8,1

(b) Identify the group to which sodium belongs.

Group 1

(c) Identify the period to which sodium belongs.

Period 3

(d) How many shells/energy levels of electrons are present in atoms of sodium?

(e) What is the valency of sodium?

+1
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

(f) How many electrons does sodium have in the outer electron shell of its atoms?

3. Explain the following terms associated with the periodic table of elements.

(a) Group.

The vertical line of elements

(b) Period.

The horizontal line of elements

(c) Atomic number

The amount of protons in an element

4. (a) Group 1 elements are called the alkali metals. Use a periodic table to identify the names and
symbols for each of the elements in group 1.

Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, Francium

(b) Explain why metals from groups 1 and 2 are never found existing as free elements.

They are too reactive to exist by themselves

5. Name three elements classified as halogens (group 17) and state the symbol used for each.

Chlorine, Fluorine and Selenium

6. (a) Explain the meaning of the term ‘inert’.

Non-reactive

(b) Identify the group of elements on the periodic table that are inert.

Group 18

(c) Name and write the symbols for these elements.

Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton,

(d) Explain why these elements exist as elements rather than compounds.
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

7. Name three elements which you would expect to have very similar chemical properties to
chlorine. Justify your selection.

8. For each of the following elements, write its symbol, then identify the period and group to which
it belongs.

(a) Magnesium

(b) Silicon

(c) Chlorine

(d) Aluminium

(e) Lithium

(f) Oxygen

9. Identify each of the following.

(a) The group to which argon belongs:

(b) The group to which carbon belongs:

(c) The period to which sodium belongs:

(d) The group of the periodic table in which the most active metals occur:

(e) The characteristic that determines the order of elements on the periodic table:

(f) What we call vertical columns of the periodic table:

(g) What we call horizontal rows of the periodic table:

(h) On the periodic table, where would you find the least active elements:

10. Indicate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons for the following neutral atoms.
7
(a) 3 Li –
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS
16
(b) 8O –

35
(c) 17Cl –

11. Complete the following table.

ISOTOPE NAME OF Z A NUMBER NUMBER NUMBER OF

ISOTOPE ATOMIC MASS OF OF ELECTRONS
NUMBER NUMBER PROTONS NEUTRONS
12
6 C Carbon-12 6 12 6 6 6
14
6 C
24
12 Mg
Argon-40 18 40
27
13 Al
Cobalt-59 27

12. Write the electron configuration for the following elements. To help you, use the periodic table
to determine the atomic number (Z) of each element and hence the number of electrons for a
neutral atom of that element.

(a) Carbon:

(b) Chorine:

(c) Magnesium:

(d) Fluorine:

(e) Calcium:

(f) Boron:

13. How many electrons are there in the outermost energy level of:

(a) Silicon

(b) Aluminium

(c) Sulfur

(d) Fluorine

(e) Chlorine

(f) Carbon
 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION OF ATOMS

14. How many valence electrons (electrons in outermost energy level/shell) are there in an atom of
each of the following elements described below?

(a) An alkali metal from the 5th period:

(b) The element from group 2 in period 3:

(c) A noble gas from period 4:

(d) The element from period 4 that belongs to group 17:

(e) The element from the third period that belongs to group 16: