How are inert gas cores used as a shorthand for electronic configuration?

1 Answer
anor277
May 28, 2017

Use the configuration of the inert gas core as a basis...........

Explanation:

For atomic lithium we have a configuration of 1s^(2)2s^(1). We COULD use the known configuration of helium to write [He]2s^1. All the chemistry is going to occur outside the inert gas core........

And then we go to neon, Z=10:1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6), and then sodium, Z=11:1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^1. We have a valence electron tacked onto an inert gas core, i.e. [Ne]3s^1. How does you represent magnesium? How about potassium?

Do you get the picture?

Edited for a mistake. With all these problems you SHOULD have your Periodic Table in front of you.

Related questions
See all questions in Noble Gas Shorthand
Impact of this question
2266 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License