Electron Configurations


Electron configurations are a method of accounting for where electrons are, as well as the shape of electron clouds and certain properties of an element. These observed properties are also responsible for the shape of the periodic table. In this system, any electron has four quantum numbers, which are unique to that electron in that atom. These quantum numbers are used to specify different wavefunctions which represent the electron.

Orbitals are named according to the shell, letter of the sub-shell, and orientation of the orbital. Most orbitals have descriptive (x,y,z) designations of their orientation, but we are not concerned with those.

We have the application Atom in a Box available for you to use. This allows you to examine the three dimensional shapes of electron clouds as based on wavefunctions. See the Quick Guide to Atom in a Box for more information!


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