Electron Configurations

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Name: ______________________ Number:
Electron Configurations
Pd: _________ Date: _________________
What is the electron structure in an atom?
Why?
The electron structure of an atom is very important. Scientists use the electronic structure of atoms to predict
bonding in molecules, the charge(s) an atom might have, and the physical properties of elements. In order for scientists to
describe the electron structure in an atom, they give the electrons “addresses.” Just like your address might include your house
number, street, city, and state, an electron’s “address” has multiple parts. In this activity, you will learn how the electrons fill up
the available spaces in an atom and how their “addresses” or configurations are assigned.
Model 1 – Photoelectron Spectrum and Shell Diagram of Sulfur
Ionization Energy (MJ/mol)
1.
How many total electrons are in a neutral sulfur atom? _______________
2.
Label each of the peaks with the number of electrons that it represents.
3.
Draw a star above the peak that represents the electrons that are closest to the nucleus. How do you know? ________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
How many energy levels are found in the shell diagram of sulfur? ___________
5.
Underneath each peak, label it with the letter of the electron shell that it represents.
Read This! There are 5 peaks in the photoelectron spectrum of sulfur. Notice, however, that some peaks have very similar
ionization energies while others have very different ionization energies. Peaks that share similar ionization energies are actually
not different energy levels. Instead, they are called subshells (or orbitals) of the same principal energy level. Principal
energy level 1 contain electrons with the highest ionization energies. As the energy levels increase, the ionization energies
decrease. Subshells are s (first subshell), p (second), d (third), and f (fourth). The s-orbital has a higher ionization energy than
the p-orbital, the p-orbital have a higher ionization energy than the d-orbital, and so forth.
6.
How many principal energy levels does sulfur have? ______________
7.
Fill in the following table with the correct information.
Principal
Number of
Types of
Total Number
Peak(s)
Energy Level
Subshells
Subshells
of Electrons
8.
When drawing correct shell diagrams, all electrons of the same principal energy level are
shown on the same “ring” or orbital even if they are in different subshells. In the box, redraw
the sulfur shell diagram from Model 1 that shows the correct location of the electrons.
Read This! Photoelectron spectrum data can tell us important information about the
principal energy and subshell orbitals of an atom’s electrons. However, this data is not always
readily available to us. This next section will show how the orbital location of electrons can be found without using PES data.

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