SHS

General Chemistry 1
Quarter 2 – Week 2
Module 2- Electronic Configuration of Atoms
General Chemistry 1

Grade 11/12 Quarter 2 - Module 2 - Electronic Configuration of Atoms

First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: CRISTITA C. FERRER, PhD, MT II

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, PhD

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

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Rominel S. Sobremonte, Ed.D., EPS in Charge of

Science Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

General Chemistry 1
Quarter 2 – Week 2
Module 2 - Electronic
Configuration of Atoms
 Target

Can you remember your lessons on the structure of atoms from the quantum
mechanical model? Where are electrons supposed to be found in the atom? How is
the arrangement of electrons in an atom described, known, and shown?

As learners board in an e-jeepney, they each sit in a separate bench seat until they are
full. Then, they begin sharing seats. Electrons fill atomic orbitals in the same way.

This module will provide you with information and activities that will help you
understand about electronic configuration of atoms and Lewis structure of ions.

After going through this module, you are expected to draw an orbital
diagram to represent the electronic configuration of atoms (STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-
58) and draw the Lewis structure of ions (STEM_GC11CBIId-g-70).

Before going on, let’s check how much you know about this topic. Answer the pre-test in Activity 1 on
Have fun and good luck! Are you ready? Let’s start!
Activity 1: Pre-Test

Direction: Write the CAPITAL letter of the correct answer on a separate paper.
(5 points)
1. What is called as a negatively-charged particle surrounding the nucleus of an
atom?
A. electron B. neutron C. positron D. proton

2. What is referred to as the arrangement of electrons in an atom?

A. electron rule C. electron principle
B. electron notation D. electron
configuration C.
3. How many electrons CAN occupy a single atomic orbital if the electrons have
opposite spins?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5

4. What is called as a three–dimensional region surrounding the nucleus and

presents the probable location of the electrons?
A. arrangement B. orbital C. region D. space

5. Which of the following statements about Aufbau Principle is TRUE?

A. It states that each electron occupies the lowest energy orbital available.
B. It states that each electron occupies the highest energy orbital available.
C. It states that single electrons with the same spin must occupy each equal-
energy orbital before additional electrons with opposite spin can occupy
the same orbitals.
D. It states that two electrons with the opposite spins must occupy each equal-
energy orbital before additional electrons with similar spin can occupy the
same orbitals.

That’s indeed a good start! Congratulations!

 Jumpstart

In the previous module, you learned to use quantum numbers to

describe an electron in an atom. You were guided to determine the magnetic
property of the atom based on its electronic configuration

This time you will be more challenged to learn how to draw orbital
diagram to represent the electronic configuration of atoms and at the same time
to draw the Lewis structure of ions.

Discover

The arrangement of electrons in an atom is called the atom’s electronic

configuration. The electron configuration of an atom or element describes how
electrons are distributed in its atomic orbitals. Since low-energy systems are more
stable than high-energy systems, electrons in an atom tend to assume the
arrangement that gives the atom the lowest energy possible. The most stable,
lowest- energy arrangement of the electrons is called ground-state electron
configuration of an element.

This notation for the distribution of electrons in the atomic orbitals of atoms
came into practice shortly after the Bohr model of the atom was presented by Ernest
Rutherford and Niels Bohr in the year 1913.

Electron configurations are based primarily on three principles: the Aufbau

principle, the Pauli exclusion principle, and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle or
Hund’s Rule. These principles define how electrons can be arranged in the orbitals
of an atom.

The Aufbau Principle

Aufbau principle is named after the German word “Aufbeen” which means
“build up”. The Aufbau principle dictates that electrons will occupy the orbitals
having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals based on the principal
energy levels and sublevels where they are in. The principal energy levels are
assigned values from one to seven in the order of increasing energy: n = 1, 2, 3, 4,
5… as they get farther from the nucleus.
Thus, the lowest energy orbital is the 1s orbital, which is the only orbital that
makes up the only sublevel in the first principal energy level (n = 1), the energy level
nearest the nucleus. The four sublevels are the s, p, d, and f where s sublevel is the
lowest energy sublevel while f sublevel is the highest energy sublevel.

Therefore, the first step in determining an element’s ground-state electron

configuration is learning the correct sequence of atomic orbitals from lowest energy
to the highest energy.

According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s,
2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p… The order in
which electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the Aufbau principle is
illustrated below:

Figure 1. Mnemonic Device of Electron Configuration

The Pauli Exclusion Principle

Electrons in orbitals can be represented by arrows in boxes. An electron is

able to spin in only one of the two directions. An arrow pointing up represents
an electron which is spinning in one direction, and an arrow pointing down
means that the electron is spinning in the opposite direction. An empty box
represents an unoccupied orbital, a box containing a single up arrow
indicates an orbital with one electron, while a box containing both up and
down arrows represents a filled orbital.
 The Pauli exclusion principle states that “a maximum of two electrons, each
having opposite spins, can fit in a single atomic orbital.” Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958),
an Austrian physicist, proposed this principle after observing atoms in excited states.

Pauli’s Exclusion Principle can be tested by simple observation.

Measurements of magnetic properties provide the most direct evidence for specific
electronic configurations of elements. Paramagnetic materials are those that
contain unpaired electrons or spins and are attracted by a magnet. Diamagnetic
materials are those with paired spins and are repelled by a magnet. Any atom with
an odd number of electrons will contain one or more unpaired spins, and are
therefore attracted by a magnet, thus, can be classified as paramagnetic. For an
even number of electrons like helium, if the two electrons in the 1s orbitals had
parallel spins, their net magnetic fields should strengthen each other. But
experimental results showed that the helium atom in its ground state has no net
magnetic field. This observation supports the pairing of two electrons with
opposite spins in the 1s orbital. Thus, helium gas is diamagnetic. Lithium, on the
other hand, has an unpaired electron and is paramagnetic. The orbital diagram
provides information on the diamagnetic or paramagnetic characteristic of an
element.

Hund’s Rule of Maximum Multiplicity

This rule describes the order in which electrons are filled in all the orbitals
belonging to a subshell. It states that “every orbital in a given subshell are singly
occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.” This means that
single electrons with the same spin must occupy each equal-energy orbital before
additional electrons with opposite spins can occupy the same orbitals.
Examples:

(1) (2) (3) (4)

Electron Distribution

Electron distribution is important in understanding chemical reactions.

There are two types of notation showing electron distribution in the different
orbitals. These are the electron configuration and orbital diagrams.

1. Electron Configuration

Electron configuration uses the symbols of the orbitals and the number
of electrons (written as superscripts) that occupy
each orbital. number of
principal 2” electrons in
quantum
1s the orbital
number

orbital or subshell
 2. Orbital Diagram

Orbital diagram consists of boxes and arrows that represent the

orbitals and the electrons, respectively. Each box is labeled with the principal
quantum number and sublevel associated with the orbital.

1s2 2s2 2p5

Remember: The up and down orientations of the arrows represent the two
magnetic spins of the electrons.

Note that the electron configuration notation does not usually show the orbital
distribution of electrons related to a sublevel. Fluorine’s 2p5, for example,
represents the orbital occupancy 2px2, 2py2, and 2pz1.

Refer to the given Table below for more examples:

Table 1. Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagrams for Elements 1-10

Atomic Orbital Diagram

Electronic
Element Symbol Number
(Z) Configuration 1s 2s 2px 2py 2pz

Hydrogen H 1 1s1

Helium He 2 1s2

Lithium Li 3 1s2 2s1

Berylium B 4 1s2 2s2

Boron B 5 1s2 2s2 2p1

Carbon C 6 1s2 2s2 2p2

Nitrogen N 7 1s2 2s2 2p3

Oxygen O 8 1s2 2s2 2p4

Fluorine F 9 1s2 2s2 2p5

Neon Ne 10 1s2 2s2 2p6

Noble Gas Notation

A shorthand method of writing electron configuration of atoms uses the noble

gases core such as [He core] to represent 1s2; [Ne core] to represent the 1s2 2s2
2p6; and other noble gases.

Refer to the Table below for some examples:

Table 2. Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagrams for Elements 11-18

Atomic
Element Symbol Electronic Configuration
Number (Z)
Sodium Na 11 [Ne] 3s1

Magnesium Mg 12 [Ne] 3s2

Aluminum Al 13 [Ne] 3s2 3p1

Silicon Si 14 [Ne] 3s2 3p2

Phosphorus P 15 [Ne] 3s2 3p3

Sulfur S 16 [Ne] 3s2 3p4

Chorine Cl 17 [Ne] 3s2 3p5

Argon Ar 18 [Ne] 3s2 3p6 or [Ar]

Potassium
K 19 [Ar] 4s1

The elements in the 4th period, starting from potassium will have argon as
the noble gas core.
Examples:
1
19K: [Ar] 4s
20Ca: [Ar] 4s2

The 4s orbital has lower energy than the 3d orbitals; it is first filled with
electrons before the 3d orbitals.
 Elements scandium to copper are transition metals. These elements will have
incompletely filled d subshells or readily gives electrons and form cations that have
incomplete filled d subshells. There will be some irregularities in the electron
distribution of this series as seen in Cr and Cu.
Examples:
2 1
21Sc: [Ar] 4s 3d
22Ti: [Ar] 4s2 3d2
24Cr: [Ar] 4s1 3d5
29Cu: [Ar] 4s1 3d10
30Zn: [Ar] 4s2 3d10

The irregularities in Cr and Cu are due to experimental results that show that
there is a greater stability associated with the half-filled (3d5) and the completely
filled (3d10) subshells. Similar observations are also found in the higher d and f-
orbitals.

Gallium is the next element after Zn, its electronic configuration is: 31Ga: [Ar]
4s2 3d10 4p1.

Remember:
Important data that can be gathered from the shortened electronic
configuration are the valence configuration and the valence electrons: the number of
electrons in the outermost subshells.

Let’s Connect!
Is there a connection between valence electron and the electron configuration of an atom? If yes, what would it

Valence Configuration
The electronic configuration representing the outermost subshells is called
valence configuration.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost main energy level or orbital are called valence
electrons.
For example, 11Na (sodium) has an electron configuration of [Ne] 3s1. The
superscript 1 represents the valence electron of 11Na. This means that there is only
one electron which is found in the outermost main energy level or shell of sodium
atom.
 Let’s consider 15P (phosphorus), this time. What is its electron
configuration? If your answer is [Ne] 3s2 3p3,
then you are correct! How many
valence electrons does it have? Yes, it’s 5! How did you get it? You add the
superscripts 2 and 3, that is equal to 5. Therefore, 15P has 5 electrons in its
outermost shell.

To easily grasp our lesson, let’s consider Table 3 below:

Table 3. Noble Gas and Valence Configurations of Na and P

Noble Gas Valence Valence

Element
Configuration Configuration Electrons
11Na [Ne] 3s1 3s1 1

15P [Ne] 3s2 3p3 3s2 3p3 5

Electron-dot Structure

Valence electrons are involved in forming chemical bonds. Chemists used a

shorthand method to visually represent valence electrons. This is called as the
electron-dot structure.

An atom’s electron-dot consists of the element’s symbol, which represents the

atomic nucleus and inner-level electrons, surrounded by dots representing all of the
atom’s valence electrons.

Steps in writing the electron-dot structure of an atom:

1. Write the symbol of the given atom.
2. Determine its valence electron. This is equal to the number of dots at the
sides of the atom.
3. Draw a dot or dots to represent the valence electron/s one at a time on the
four sides of the symbol. (Dots may be placed in a sequence.)
4. Then paired up the dots.
Study the following examples in Table below:

Table 4. Electron Configurations and Dot Structures of Some Elements

Atomic
Electron Electron-Dot
Element Number
Configuration Structure
(Z)
Lithium 3 1s2 2s1
Li
Beryllium 4 1s2 2s2
Be
Boron 5 1s2 2s2 2p1
B

Carbon 6 1s2 2s2 2p2 C

Nitrogen 7 1s2 2s2 2p3

N

Oxygen 8 1s2 2s2 2p4

O

Fluorine 9 1s2 2s2 2p5 F

Neon 10 1s2 2s2 2p6 Ne

Can you still recall your lesson about ions, cations, and anions last first
quarter? When does an atom become an ion? How is a cation different from an anion?

Remember that cations and anions form from neutral atoms. A cation is an
ion that has lost one or more electrons, gaining a positive charge while an anion is
an ion that has gained one or more electrons, acquiring a negative charge. Every
atom in its ground state is uncharged. According to its atomic number, it has the
same number of protons and electrons. The driving force for such gain or loss of
electrons is the energetically optimal state of having a full valence (outermost) shell
of electrons. In such a state, the resulting charged atom has the electron
configuration of a noble gas.
Ionic Lewis Dot Structures

Examples:

1. Sodium, 11Na, combines with chlorine, 17Cl, to form sodium chloride

(table salt), NaCl.

Neutral Atoms Cation Anion

Na + Cl Na+ + [ ]-

EC: [Ne] 3s1 [Ne] 3s2 3p5

2. Potassium atom, 19K, combines with bromine atom, 9F, to form

potassium bromide, KF.

Neutral Atoms Cation Anion

K + F K+ + [ F ]-

EC: [Ne] 3s2 1s2 2s2 2p5

 Explore

To master these concepts, here are some enrichment activities prepared for you! Keep go

Enrichment Activity 1: “Fill Me Out!”

Copy the given Table on your 1WSOPP. Then fill out the given Table.

Number
Atomic Number Paramagnetic
Electron Orbital of
Element Number of or
Configuration Diagram Unpaired
(Z) Electrons Diamagnetic
Electrons
Li

Mg

Al

Cl

Enrichment Activity 2: “Give Me Dots!”

On a separate paper, draw the Lewis dot structures of the following

ions:

1. K + Cl2 KCl

2. Ca+ O2 CaO

3. Mg + Br2 MgBr2

You are really doing great! That’s amazing!

 Deepen

To deeply embrace electron configurations and orbital diagrams in your life,

you need to do this activity.

Enrichment Activity 3: “Me…My EC and OD!”

Materials:
drawing and coloring materials short bond paper
Procedure:
1. Draw an electron configuration and orbital diagram of your life as a
Senior High School learner during the new normal.
2. Explain your creative work in not more than five sentences.
3. Be guided with the given rubrics below:

Needs
Extraordi Above Below
Average Improve SCO
Criteria nary Average Average
(3) ment RE
(5) (4) (2)
(1)

Understan The The The The The

ding artwork is artwork artwork is artwork artwork
of planned is planned shows shows no
Concepts carefully; planned adequatel little understan
(Demonstra understan care- y; evidence ding of
tion that ding of all fully; understan of the
instruction concepts under- ding of understan concepts
s and and standing some ding the and
concepts instructio of most concepts concepts instructio
are ns is concepts and and ns.
understood clearly and instructio instructio
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(X2) ns is
shown.
Craftsman The The The The The
ship/ artwork artwork artwork artwork artwork
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(Neatness, outstandi good average below poor
precision, ng craftman craftmans average craftmans
and care.) craftsman ship, with hip and craftmans hip and
(X2) ship, with some attention hip and no
clear attention to detail. little attention
attention to detail. attention to detail.
to detail, to detail.
Creativity/ The The The The
Originality artwork artwork artwork The artwork
(Inventiven demonstra demonstr demonstr artwork lacks
ess, tes ates some ates an demonstr evidence
expression original personal average ates little of
of ideas personal expressio amount of personal personal
and expression n and personal expressio expressio
imagination and logical expressio n and n.
.) outstandi problem- n. problem-
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problem- skills. skills.
solving
skills.
Effort The The The The The
(What it student student student student student
takes to put forth put forth put forth put forth put forth
finish the extraordin the effort the effort the effort no effort
project as ary effort required required required or the
well as to to to finish to finish project
possible, complete complete the the was not
time the project the project; project; completed
dedicated well as project used class used class ; class
to the possible; well; used time time time was
project used class class adequatel adequatel not used
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(X1)