How do I write electron configurations?

Can you explain how to write electron configurations for elements?

Sure! Electron configurations describe the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. They follow the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule.

What are the steps to write the electron configuration for oxygen?

For oxygen, which has 8 electrons, you start filling the orbitals: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴. This means the first two electrons go into the 1s orbital, the next two into the 2s, and the remaining four into the 2p.

What do the numbers and letters in the configuration mean?

The numbers indicate the energy level (1, 2, etc.), while the letters (s, p, d, f) represent the type of orbital. The superscripts show how many electrons are in each orbital.

Can you give me an example of a transition metal's electron configuration?

Certainly! For iron (Fe), which has 26 electrons, the configuration is [Ar] 4s² 3d⁶. This means it has 2 electrons in the 4s orbital and 6 in the 3d orbital.