Atomic Orbitals &
Electron
Configuration
By: Rohit C. Tilwani, RCh, PhD
Course Objectives..
• To learn and differentiate the different types
of atomic orbitals
• To determine the no. of electrons in an
energy level (principal and sublevel)
• To arrange the electrons in an atom by
learning the electron configuration
Bohr’s model…
• Electrons are found in specific circular paths
(orbits) around the nucleus.
• The electrons have fixed energies called
energy levels. (like rungs on a ladder)
• The amount of energy required to move an
electron to another energy level is called a
quantum.
A quantum is just an amount of energy that the electron
needs to gain (or lose) to move to the next energy level.
In this case it is losing the energy and dropping a level.
The Quantum Mechanical Model
• It is based on the energy and possible
location of an electron.
• how likely it is to find an electron is
described in terms of probability.
• Based on work done by Schrodinger…
Energy Levels
• The energy levels of electrons are labeled
by principal quantum numbers (n)
• Each energy sublevel corresponds to an
orbital of a different shape, which describes
where the electron is likely to be found.
Energy Sublevel
• Sublevel
– Shape of electron cloud
s = spherical
p = dumbbell
d = clover leaf
f = too complex
1st Energy level has 1 sublevel -- 1s
2nd Energy level has 2 sublevels -- 2s and 2p
3rd Energy level has 3 sublevels -- 3s, 3p, and 3d
4th Energy level has 4 sublevels -- 4s, 4p, 4d and 4f
Energy Sublevel
Orbitals
– Describes the orientation in space within a
sublevel
s = 1 orbital
p = 3 orbitals
d = 5 orbitals
f = 7 orbitals
ONLY 2 electrons in any orbital!!!
Atomic Orbitals
Shapes and Orientations of
Orbitals
s- orbital
Spherical in shape
s- orbital
p- orbitals
Look like dumbbells
p- orbitals
d- orbitals
Clover leaf
f- orbitals
Too complex shape
ATOMIC ORBITALS
Electron Configuration
A detailed way of showing the
order in which electrons fill in
around the nucleus
Electron Configuration
Three rules that dictate how electrons are arranged.
1. Aufbau Principle
2. Pauli’s Exclusion Principle
3. Hund’s Rule
Aufbau Principle
★ Electrons enter orbitals of lowest energy
first.
★ Electrons do not fill in orbitals in
consecutive numerical order.
Aufbau Principle
Aufbau Principle
Pauli exclusion principle
Two (2) electrons must occupy an orbital,
and they must have opposite spins.
Pauli’s exclusion principle
Hund’s rule
Electrons that occupy orbitals of the same
energy will have the maximum number of
electrons with the same spin.
2p
Remember….
max number of electrons in an energy level
ENERGY LEVEL MAX # OF ELECTRONS
1 2
2 8
3 18
4 32
5 50
Energy Sub-level Total Orbitals Total Total Electrons
Level s Electrons per Level
n=1 s 1 (1s orbital) 2 2
n=2 s 1 (2s orbital) 2 8
p 3 (2p orbitals) 6
n=3 s 1 (3s orbital) 2 18
p 3 (3p orbitals) 6
d 5 (3d orbitals) 10
• Complete the chart in your notes as we discuss this.
n = 4• Thesfirst level1(n=1)
(4s orbital) 2 It has only
has an s orbital. 32 1.
p are no other
There 3 (4p orbitals) 6 energy level.
orbitals in the first
• We dfcall this orbital
5 (4d orbitals)
the 1s
7 (4f orbitals)
orbital. 10
14
Electron Configuration
# of e in -
2
sub level
1s
Symbols
Energy Level
Sub Level
(s, p, d, f )
Electron Configurations
Element Configuration Element Configuration
H Z=1 1s1 He Z=2 1s2
Li Z=3 1s22s1 Be Z=4 1s22s2
B Z=5 1s22s22p1 C Z=6 1s22s22p2
N Z=7 1s22s22p3 O Z=8 1s22s22p4
F Z=9 1s22s22p5 Ne Z=10 1s22s22p6
(2p is now full)
Na Z=11 1s22s22p63s1 Cl Z=17 1s22s22p63s23p5
K Z=19 1s22s22p63s23p64s1 Sc Z=21 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d1
Fe Z=26 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d6 Br Z=35 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p5
Note that all the numbers in the electron configuration add up to the atomic
number for that element. Ex: for Ne (Z=10), 2+2+6 = 10