How do I read electron configurations?

Can you explain how to read electron configurations?

Sure! Electron configurations describe the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. They follow a specific notation.

What does the notation look like?

The notation consists of numbers and letters, like 1s² 2s² 2p⁶, where the number indicates the energy level, the letter indicates the type of orbital, and the superscript shows the number of electrons.

How do I determine the electron configuration for an element?

You can determine it by using the periodic table. Start from hydrogen and fill the orbitals according to the Aufbau principle, Hund's rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle.

Can you give me an example with oxygen?

Of course! Oxygen has 8 electrons, so its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴.