1. What is Electron Configuration?

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's atomic orbitals. It follows the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule to determine how electrons fill available orbitals.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator follows the standard order of orbital filling:

Where:

• s orbitals can hold up to 2 electrons
• p orbitals can hold up to 6 electrons
• d orbitals can hold up to 10 electrons
• f orbitals can hold up to 14 electrons

Explanation: The calculator fills orbitals in order until all electrons for the given atomic number are accounted for.

3. Importance of Electron Configuration

Details: Electron configuration determines an element's chemical properties, including its reactivity, bonding behavior, and position in the periodic table.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter an atomic number between 1 and 118. The calculator will show the ground state electron configuration for that element.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the exceptions to the standard filling order?
A: Some elements like Cr and Cu have half-filled or completely filled d subshells for greater stability.

Q2: How does electron configuration relate to the periodic table?
A: Elements in the same group have similar outer electron configurations, which explains their similar chemical properties.

Q3: What is the noble gas notation?
A: For heavier elements, we often write the configuration starting from the previous noble gas to save space.

Q4: How do I write configuration for ions?
A: For cations, remove electrons from the outermost shell first. For anions, add electrons to the outermost shell.

Q5: What's the difference between ground state and excited state?
A: Ground state is the lowest energy configuration. Excited state occurs when electrons absorb energy and jump to higher orbitals.