Electron Configuration

• The electron cloud is the area surrounding the nucleus where electrons whiz around.
• Most of the area of the electron cloud is empty space.
• Electrons are arranged into energy levels called orbitals.
• When an orbital is full, it is said to be complete.
• Electrons fit into the orbitals around a nucleus in an arrangement called the electron configuration.
• If you add the numbers in the electron configuration, the sum is the total number of electrons, which is equal to the atomic number.
• Electrons farther from the nucleus have more energy.
• K orbital is closest to the nucleus, holds 2 electrons.
• L orbital holds up to 8 electrons.
• M orbital holds up to 8 or up to 18 electrons.
• N orbital holds up to 18 or up to 32 electrons.
• There are also O, P and Q orbitals for a maximum of 7 energy levels.
• Electrons in the orbital farthest from the nucleus are called valence electrons.
• Valence electrons form chemical bonds with other atoms and give elements their chemical properties.
• Atoms combine with other atoms to complete their outermost or last energy level, called the valence orbital.