Electron

Configuration

IB Chemistry Power Points

Topic 12
Atomic Structure
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HL Topic 12.1 Electron Configuration
Ionization energy is defined as the amount of
energy required to remove a mole of electrons from
a mole of gaseous atoms of a particular element.


E
(g)

E
+
(g)
+ e
-
Trends in ionization energy occur in the Periodic Table.
Ionization energy decreases down a group and increases
across a period.


Trends in ionization energy occur in the Periodic Table.
Ionization energy decreases down a group and increases
across a period.


WHY?

Effective nuclear charge is the net positive charge felt by an
electron in an atom.

The basics of electrostatics imply that each and every electron is attracted to each and
every proton in the nucleus and repelled by every other electron. However . . .

Electrons between the valence electron and the nucleus
provide a shielding effect weakening the electrostatic force
on the valence electron.

Across a Period:

shielding remains constant

atomic number increases so effective nuclear charge increases

ionization energy increases

Down a Group:

shielding increases AND atomic number increases

effective nuclear charge does not change significantly

valence electrons further from nucleus

so weaker electrostatic force and lower ionization energy

Lithium (Z=3)
Sodium (Z=11)
Hydrogen (Z=1)
+
e
-

+
+
+
e
-

8e
-

2e
-

+
+ +
+
e
-

+
e
-

H
+

+
+
+
e
-

2e
-

Li
+
e
-

8e
-

2e
-

+
+ +
+
Na
+

2e
-

This diagram shows how 1
st
ionization energy decreases
down a group and that trends in ionization energy also occur
across a period. Look at the H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs values!

.



Looking at just the trend across the 1
st
period, what does the
graph imply?



The theory is . . .
Across a period, number of
p
+
increases so effective
nuclear charge increases.

As a result, the valence
electrons are more
strongly held, and are
closer to the nucleus
(radius decreases)

This does not explain the
drop in ionization energy
(decreased stability)
observed between Be and B
and between N and O.



NEW IDEA suborbitals (or subshells)



Within a given energy level
(shell), there are different
subshells that electrons can
occupy that have slightly
different energy levels
Old Idea expanded: 2,8,8,2 configuration with energy shells
1,2,3,4 . . . but each shell subdivided
Electron arrangement in atoms can be described by terms
called quantum numbers no two electrons can have the
same quantum number!
1
st
Term: Shell (n)
- principle energy level
n = 1
n = 2
n = 3
lone electron
of Hydrogen
2
nd
Term: subshell
- designated by s, p,d,f

1s
n = 2
n = 3
The first energy shell (1) has one subshell (s).

2
nd
Term: subshell
- designated by s, p, d, f
- designates the sub-energy level
within the shell.
- refers to the shape(s) of the
volume of space in which the
electron can be located.

1s
n = 2
n = 3
The first shell (1) has one subshell (s).

The s subshell has 1 spherical shaped orbital

orbitals are volumes of space where the
probability of finding an electron is high
The Electronic Configuration of Hydrogen
1s
Hydrogen has one electron located in the first
shell (1). (Aufbau principle)

The first shell has only one subshell (s). The s
subshell contains 1 spherical orbital.
1s
1

shell
subshell
# of electrons present
energy
1s

Electronic configuration
Orbital Energy Level Diagram
The Electronic Configuration of Helium
He: Atomic # of 2, 2 electrons in a neutral He atom
H 1s
1

He 1s
2

He 1s

1s
the maximum number of electrons in an orbital is TWO

if there are 2 electrons in the same orbital they must have an
opposite spin.

This is called Paulis Exclusion Principle
1s
Lithium (Li)
Li: Z=3 Li has 3 electrons.
2
nd

shell
1s
The 2nd shell (n= 2) has 2
subshells which are s and p.

The s subshell fills first!
(Aufbau Principle)

2s
2p
Li 1s
2
2s
1

2s

Li 1s

Electronic configuration
Orbital Energy Level Diagram
Berylium (Be)
Be: Z=4 Be has 4 electrons.
Be 1s
2
2s
2

2s

Be 1s

Electronic configuration
Orbital Energy Level Diagram

1s
2
nd

shell
2s
2p
B 1s
2
2s
2
2p
1

2p

2s

B 1s

Boron (B) has 5 electrons, the s subshell is full so the 5
th

electron occupies the first orbital in the p subshell
Subshells so far
- designated by s, and p
- refers to the shape(s) of
the volume in which the electron
can be located.
- also designates an energy level
within the shell.
- relative energy: s < p
s subshell: spherical
1 orbital
p subshell: pair of lobes, 3 orbitals, each holds 2 electrons

x y z
x
y
z
Carbon (C)
C: Z=6 C has 6 electrons.
1s
2
nd

shell
2s
2p
C 1s
2
2s
2
2p
x
1
p
y
1
2p

2s

C 1s

C 1s
2
2s
2
2p
2
The 6
th
electron occupies an
empty p orbital. This illustrates
Hunds Rule electrons do not
pair in orbitals until each orbital
is occupied with a single electron.

The electron configuration is



But always written as
2p

2s

N 1s

1s
2
2s
2
2p
3
2p

2s

O 1s

1s
2
2s
2
2p
4
2p

2s

Ne 1s

1s
2
2s
2
2p
6
Can we relate the filling of
the subshells with the
ionization energy data?
Ionization energy trends

Down a group : ionization energy decreases
- ENC constant but atoms larger so easier to ionize

Across a period : ionization energy increases
- increasing ENC therefore smaller size (e- closer to nucleus)
so harder to ionize

Explaining the dips support for s and
p orbital model

Be to B dip
- because s shields p and lowers ENC

N to O dip
- because repulsions between electron
pair in first full orbital (experimental
evidence supporting Aufbau and Hund)
Electron Configurations and the Periodic Table

So far, we have seen how the subshell model provides
and explanation for the patterns in ionization energy
we see in the periodic table.

You have also seen how to write electron configurations

Example CALCIUM

1s
2
2s
2
2p
6
3s
2
3p
6
4s
2

Principle energy level subshell # of e
-



Calcium can also be written shorthand as:


[Ar]4s
2


Practice

Use the sheets provided to fill out orbital diagrams and
determine the electron configuration for the following
elements

1. Fluorine
2.
56
Fe
3. Magnesium - 22
4.
131
I
5. Potassium 42
6.
75
Ge
7. Zirconium 90
8.
41
Ca
2+





Practice

Use the sheets provided to fill out orbital diagrams and
determine the electron configuration for the following
elements

1. Fluorine 1s
2
2s
2
p
5

2.
56
Fe 1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2
3p
6
4s
2
3d
6

3. Magnesium 22 1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2

4.
131
I 1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2
3p
6
3d
10
4s
2
4p
6
4d
10
5s
2
5p
5

5. Potassium 42 1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2
3p
6
4s
1


6.
75
Ge 1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2
3p
6
4s
2
3d
10
4p
2

7. Zirconium 90 1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2
3p
6
4s
2
3d
10
4p
6
5s
2
4d
2


8.
41
Ca
2+
1s
2
2s
2
p
6
3s
2
3p
6





The organization of the Periodic table correlates directly to
electron structure
Condensed electron configurations for example the electron
configuration of bromine can be written [Ar] 4s
2
3d
10
4p
5

Read questions carefully many IB questions require you
to write the FULL electron configuration

Electron configuration of ions:

The exception: TRANSITION METAL IONS

In general, electrons will be removed from orbitals (ionization) in the
reverse order that the orbitals were filled. In other words, electrons
vacate higher energy orbitals first.

When these ions form, electrons are removed from the valence shell s
orbitals before they are removed from valence d orbitals when transition
metals are ionized.
For example: Cobalt has the configuration [Ar] 4s
2
3d
7
OR [Ar] 3d
7
4s
2



The Co
2+
and Co
3+
ions have the following electron configurations.


Co
2+
: [Ar] 3d
7
Co
3+
: [Ar] 3d
6



Condensed electron configurations for example the electron
configuration of bromine can be written [Ar] 4s
2
3d
10
4p
5

1. Si ___________________________
2. S
2-
___________________________
3. Rb
+
___________________________
4. Se ___________________________
5. Ar ___________________________
6. Nb ___________________________
7. Zn
2+
___________________________
8. Cd ___________________________
9. Sb ___________________________
You are responsible for configurations up to Z = 54 (Xe). The table
works well for this with the exception of Cr and Cu
Chromiums configuration is:

[Ar]4s
1
3d
5
Coppers configuration is:

[Ar]4s
1
3d
10
These configurations are energetically more stable
than the expected arrangements. KNOW THEM!

1
st

737.7

2
nd

1450.7

3
rd

7732.7


35458 31653 25661 21711 18020 13630 10542.5


169988


189367.7

Successive ionization
energy data supports the
electron configuration model

Review: the principles involved

Hunds Rule: the most stable arrangement of electrons in
orbitals of equal energy is where there is the maximum number
of unpaired electrons all with the same spin.

Aufbau Principle: electrons will fill the lowest energy orbitals
first

Paulis Exclusion Principle: A maximum of two electrons can
occupy a single orbital. These electrons will have opposite
spins.