How to write the electron configuration of an atom

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Steps to write the electron configuration of a neutral atom

1. Find the atomic number of the atom, this number must be equal to the number of electrons on the atom.

The atomic number of an atom is located in the upper left corner on the box for any of the elements in the periodic table.

1. Locate the atomic number

1. Locate the atomic number

1. Locate the atomic number

2. Having the atomic number of the atom, follow the Aufbau principle to assign the corresponding number of electrons to each orbital of the atom.

Using the following electron configuration chart we are going to build the configuration for potassium, K0, atomic number: 19.

Remember that the maximum number of electrons for each orbital are:

2 for s6 for p10 for d14 for f

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2

1s2

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2 2s2

2s2

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2 2s2 2p6

2p6

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3s2

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

3p6

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s14s1

Now we just have to follow the arrows until we sum 19 electrons:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1

The sum of the superscripts must be 19!

4s1

Practice writing the electron configuration of any other atom from the periodic table!

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