Electronic Configuration

Humans by nature tend to be systematic and that is achieved by proper arrangement. Humans have tried
to arrange the elements too. Efforts were made by various chemists, and Mendeleev was one of them. He
arranged the elements by atomic weight.
Electronic configuration is the arrangement of electrons in an atom in different shells and sub-shells.
After the discovery of the shells and sub-shells, various physical and chemical properties of the elements
were linked to the electronic configuration. As a result, attempts were made to arrange elements by
their electronic configuration, so that their properties would obviously fall in a trend. Subsequently, the
modern arrangement is evolved wherein elements are organized by atomic number. This is known as
the modern periodic table.
The modern periodic table has elements arranged according to their electronic configurations. From left to
right, i.e., in a period, the arrangement is such that each subsequent electron is added to the same
shell. There are certain steps for writing the electronic configuration.
Step-1
Find out the atomic number of the element from periodic table. Since, in an atom, the number of protons
which is the atomic number is equal to the number of electrons, the atomic number will give you the
information about the number of electrons in that atom . Let's take the example of calcium. The atomic
number of calcium is 20.
Step-2
Follow the electron configuration chart.

Now, fill electrons by following the arrows of the electron configuration chart. Remember that the s-orbital
can accommodate a maximum of two electrons while the p-orbital sets can hold six electrons in three
orbitals. In the same way d-orbital set contains ten and f-orbital sets contain fourteen electrons in five and
seven orbitals respectively.
Step-3
After filling given electrons in the energy levels, write the electronic configuration in the given manner.
[X] [Y] [Z]

Where, X represents the energy level, Y is for the sub-shell which is named as s, p, d and f. The number
of sub-shells increases with the energy level. The number Z is the number of electrons present in a subshell.
We can represent electron configuration chart by using principle quantum number notifications also.

For filling given electrons, we have to start form the K shell and move to higher levels.

Electronic Configuration in the Period

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Example
Configuration of Li atomic number. 3, is 1s2 , 2s1
Configuration of Be atomic no. 4, is 1s2 , 2s2
Configuration of B atomic no. 5, is 1s2 , 2s2, 2p1
Configuration of C atomic no. 6, is 1s2 , 2s2 , 2p2
and so on till Neon,the last element.
This addition of each subsequent electron results in a completely new configuration and as a result the
chemical properties of the subsequent element changes gradually. At the end of each row, a drastic shift
occurs in the chemical properties.

Use the below widget to find the electron configuration.

Electronic Configuration in the Group

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From top to bottom in a column, i.e., in a group, each subsequent electron is added to the new shell, but
in the same sub-shell, e.g., in the 1st group,
Configuration of H atomic number.1,is 1s1
Configuration of Li atomic no. 3, is 1s2 ,2s1
Configuration of Na atomic no. 11, is 1s2 ,s2,2p6 ,3s1
Configuration of K atomic no. 19, is 1s2 ,2s2 ,2p6,3s2 ,3p6,4s1
and so on till Neon, the last element.
The number of valence shell electrons in an atom would determine the way it will interact with other atoms
and therefore determines its chemical properties.
Thus the outermost configuration, which is responsible for various properties such as valency, oxidation
states, etc., remains same. Hence in a group, the physical and chemical properties are same.To illustrate,
the halogens are strong electronegative elements.

Valence Electron Configuration

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The electrons present in the outer most shell of an atom which takes part in chemical reactions, are
known as valence electrons.
These electrons can combine with valence electrons of other atoms to form chemical bonds. Hence
valence electrons affect the chemical properties and bonding nature of an atom.
The electronic configuration of the outer most shell of an element is known as valence electron
configuration.
Its easy to write the valence electron configuration for the main group of elements (group 1,2 & 13-18),
because the electron present in the electronic shell of the highest principal quantum number are valence
electrons and their electronic representation will be easy. For example, the electronic configuration of
Cesium (Cs) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 6s1 so that there is one valence electron in 6s
and the valence electron configuration will be 6s1.
But in case of d and f block elements, the valence electron configuration involves the penultimate shell
and the ultimate shell also. Hence, the general valence electron configuration of the various blocks is

Element

Valence Electron Configuration

s-block element

ns1

p-block element

ns2 , np 1-6

d-block element

(n - 1)d 1-10,ns 1-2

f-block element

(n - 2)f 1-14(n - 1)d 0-1nsa

Electron Configuration Table

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We can show the electron configuration of an element in a tabular form also. Such type of tabular form is
termed as electron configuration table. This table describes the number of electrons in each energy level
of an atom as well as their arrangement. Electron configuration table is the best way to represent an
atom as it shows all the information regarding the energy levels of an atom in a small space.
For example, the electron configuration table for Thallium (Tl) with atom number 81 is given below

1s2
2s2 2p6
3s2 3p6 3d10
4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14
5s2 5p6 5d10
6s2 6p1

Electron Configuration List

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The following table shows the electron configuration chart of the elements of the periodic table.

Atomic
Number

Name of
element

Symbol

Grou Electron
p
Configuration

Hydrogen

1s1

Helium

He

18

1s2

Symbol, group/series/block
and Comments
Group 0/18 Noble Gas,

Lithium

Li

[He] 2s

s-block, Group 1 Alkali Metal,

Beryllium

Be

[He] 2s2

Borom

13

[He] 2s2 2p1

s-block, Group 2 Alkaline

Earth Metal,

p-block, Group 3/13

Carbon

14

[He] 2s 2p

p-block, Gp4/14,

Nitrogen

15

[He] 2s2 2p3

p-block, Gp5/15,

Oxygen

16

[He] 2s 2p

Fluorine

17

[He] 2s2 2p5

10

Neon

Ne

18

[He] 2s 2p
1

11

Sodium

Na

[Ne] 3s

12

Magnesium

Mg

[Ne] 3s2

13

Aluminium

Al

13

[Ne] 3s2 3p1

14

Silicon

Si

14

p-block, Gp6/16,
p-block, G p7/17 Halogen,
p-block, Gp 0/18 Noble Gas,
Gp1 Alkali Metal,
s-block, Gp2 Alkaline Earth
Metal,

[Ne] 3s 3p

p-block, Gp3/13,
p-block, Gp4/14,

15

Phosphorus

15

[Ne] 3s2 3p3

p-block, Gp5/15,

16

Sulphur

16

[Ne] 3s2 3p4

p-block, Gp6/16,

17

Chlorine

Cl

17

[Ne] 3s 3p

p-block, Gp7/17 Halogen,

18

Argon

Ar

18

[Ne] 3s2 3p6

p-block, Gp 0/18 Noble Gas,

19

Potassium

[Ar] 4s

20

Calcium

Ca

[Ar] 4s2

s-block, Gp2 Alkaline Earth

Metal,

21

Scandium

Sc

[Ar] 3d1 4s2

3d block, not true Transition

Metal

22

Titanium

Ti

[Ar] 3d2 4s2

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

23

Vanadium

[Ar] 3d3 4s2

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

24

Chromium

Cr

[Ar] 3d5 4s1

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

25

Manganese

Mn

[Ar] 3d5 4s2

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

26

Iron

Fe

[Ar] 3d6 4s2

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

27

Cobalt

Co

[Ar] 3d7 4s2

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

28

Nickel

Ni

10

[Ar] 3d8 4s2

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

29

Copper

Cu

11

[Ar] 3d10 4s1

3d block, a true Transition

Metal

30

Zinc

Zn

12

[Ar] 3d10 4s2

3d block, not true Transition

Metal

31

Gallium

Ga

13

[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p1

p-block, Gp3/13,

32

Germanium

Ge

14

[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p2

p-block, Gp4/14,

15

10

[Ar] 3d 4s 4p

p-block, Gp5/15,

10

33

Arsenic

As

s-block, Gp1 Alkali Metal,

34

Selenium

Se

16

[Ar] 3d 4s 4p

p-block, Gp6/16,

35

Bromine

Br

17

[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5

p-block, Gp7/17 Halogen,

10

36

Krypton

Kr

18

[Ar] 3d 4s 4p

p-block, Gp 0/18 Noble Gas,

37

Rubidium

Rb

[Kr] 5s1

s-block, Gp1 Alkali Metal,

38

Strontium

Sr

[Kr] 5s2

s-block, Gp2 Alkaline Earth

Metal,

39

Yttrium

[Kr] 4d1 5s2

4d block, not true Transition

Metal

40

Zirconium

Zr

[Kr] 4d2 5s2

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

41

Niobium

Nb

[Kr] 4d4 5s1

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

42

Molybdenum

Mo

[Kr] 4d5 5s1

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

43

Technetium

Tc

[Kr] 4d5 5s2

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

44

Ruthenium

Ru

[Kr] 4d7 5s1

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

45

Rhodium

Rh

[Kr] 4d8 5s1

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

46

Palladium

Pd

10

[Kr] 4d10

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

47

Silver

Ag

11

[Kr] 4d10 5s1

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

48

Cadmium

Cd

12

[Kr] 4d10 5s2

4d block, a true Transition

Metal

49

Indium

In

13

[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p1

p-block, Gp3/13,

50

Tin

Sn

14

[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2

p-block, Gp4/14,

15

10

[Kr] 4d 5s 5p

p-block, Gp5/14,

10

51

Antimony

Sb

52

Tellurium

Te

16

[Kr] 4d 5s 5p

p-block, Gp6/16,

53

Iodine

17

[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p5

p-block, Gp7/17 Halogen,

10

54

Xenon

Xe

18

[Kr] 4d 5s 5p

p-block, Gp 0/18 Noble Gas,

55

Cesium

Cs

[Xe] 6s1

s-block, Gp1 Alkali Metal,

56

Barium

Ba

[Xe] 6s2

s-block, Gp2 Alkaline Earth

Metal,

57

Lanthanum

La

[Xe] 5d1 6s2

Start of 5d-bock and

Lanthanide Series

58

Cerium

Ce

101

[Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2

1st of f-block in the

Lanthanides Metals

59

Praseodymium Pr

101

[Xe] 4f3 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

60

Neodymium

Nd

101

[Xe] 4f4 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

61

Promethium

Pm

101

[Xe] 4f5 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

62

Samarium

Sm

101

[Xe] 4f6 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

63

Europium

Eu

101

[Xe] 4f7 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

64

Gadolinium

Gd

101

[Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

65

Terbium

Tb

101

[Xe] 4f9 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

66

Dysprosium

Dy

101

[Xe] 4f10 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

67

Holmium

Ho

101

[Xe] 4f11 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

68

Erbium

Er

101

[Xe] 4f12 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

69

Thulium

Tm

101

[Xe] 4f13 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

70

Ytterbium

Yb

101

[Xe] 4f14 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

71

Lutetium

Lu

101

[Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2

f-block in the Lanthanides

Metals

72

Hafnium

Hf

[Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2

d-block element

73

Tantalum

Ta

[Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2

d-block element

14

[Xe] 4f 5d 6s

d-block element

14

d-block element

74

Tungsten

75

Rhenium

Re

[Xe] 4f 5d 6s

76

Osmium

Os

[Xe] 4f14 5d6 6s2

d-block element

14

d-block element

77

Iridium

Ir

[Xe] 4f 5d 6s

78

Platinum

Pt

10

[Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1

d-block element

11

14

10

[Xe] 4f 5d 6s

d-block element

14

10

d-block element

79

Gold

Au

80

Mercury

Hg

12

[Xe] 4f 5d 6s

81

Thallium

TI

13

[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p1 p-block element

82

Lead

Pb

14

[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 p-block element

83

Bismuth

Bi

15

[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3 p-block element

84

Polonium

Po

16

[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 p-block element

85

Astatine

At

17

[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p5 p-block element

86

Radon

Rn

18

[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p6 p-block element

87

Francium

Fr

[Rn] 7s1

s-block radioactive element

from 1st group

88

Radium

Ra

[Rn] 7s2

s-block radioactive element

from 2nd group

89

Actinium

Ac

[Rn] 6d1 7s2

d-block element , 1st element of

actinide

90

Thorium

Th

102

[Rn] 6d2 7s2

f-block element , actinide

91

Protactinium

Pa

102

[Rn] 5f2 6d1 7s2

f-block element , actinide

f-block element , actinide

92

Uranium

102

[Rn] 5f 6d 7s

93

Neptunium

Np

102

[Rn] 5f4 6d1 7s2

f-block element , actinide

102

f-block element , actinide

f-block element , actinide

94

Plutonium

Pu

[Rn] 5f 7s

95

Americium

Am

102

[Rn] 5f 7s

96

Curium

Cm

102

[Rn] 5f7 6d1 7s2

f-block element , actinides

f-block element , actinides

97

Berkelium

Bk

102

[Rn] 5f 7s

98

Californium

Cf

102

[Rn] 5f107s2
11

f-block element , actinides

f-block element , actinides

99

Einsteinium

Es

102

[Rn] 5f 7s

100

Fermium

Fm

102

[Rn] 5f127s2

101

Mendelevium Md

102

f-block element , actinides

13

f-block element , actinides

14

f-block element , actinides

[Rn] 5f 7s

102

Nobelium

No

102

[Rn] 5f 7s

103

Lawrencium

Lr

102

[Rn] 5f146d17s2
14

f-block element , actinides

Artificial radioactive element

and the first transactinide
element.

104

Rutherfordium Rf

[Rn] 5f 6d 7s

105

Dubnium

Db

[Rn] 5f146d37s2

Artificial radioactive element

106

Seaborgium

Sg

[Rn] 5f146d47s2

Artificial radioactive element

that does not occur in nature

107

Bohrium

Bh

[Rn] 5f146d57s2

Radioactive element

108

Hassium

Hs

[Rn] 5f146d67s2

Radioactive element

14

Radioactive element

109

Meitnerium

Mt

[Rn]5f 6d 7s