Atomic Structure
Electron Configuration
| Value of l | Subshell |
|---|---|
| 0 | s |
| 1 | p |
| 2 | d |
| 3 | f |
In atoms, the electron configuration is the arrangement of the electrons. The configuration defines the atoms or molecule, and shows the structure. The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, the second shell holds up to 8 electrons, the third shell 18 electrons, and so on.
The electron configurations of atoms determine the structure of the atom itself.
Examples of Configurations
The Electron configuration for Helium, atomic number 2: 1s2
The Electron configuration for Argon, atomic number 18: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
The Electron configuration for Ununoctium, atomic number 118: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d10 7p6
