What are the electron configurations of lithium, oxygen, nitrogen, and potassium?
1 Answer
Lithium:
Oxygen:
Nitrogen:
Potassium:
Explanation:
Lithium:
PTable
From its position, we know that it has
We also know that its
Putting it all together, we get
Oxygen:
PTable
From its position in the periodic table, we know that it has
We also know that:
- Its
1s orbital is full. There are2 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has2 electrons in its1s orbital:1s^2 . - Its
2s orbital is full. There are2 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has2 electrons in its2s orbital:2s^2 .
Putting it all together, we get
Nitrogen:
PTable
Nitrogen is directly to the left of oxygen in the periodic table. This tells us that it has one less electron than oxygen—therefore, its electron configuration is the exact same as oxygen's, except with one less electron in the valence energy level.
Oxygen's electron configuration is
After taking one electron from that, it becomes
Potassium:
PTable
From its position in the periodic table, we know that it has
We also know that:
-
Its
1s orbital is full. There are2 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has2 electrons in its1s orbital:1s^2 . -
Its
2s orbital is full. There are2 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has2 electrons in its2s orbital:2s^2 . -
Its
2p orbital is full. There are6 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has6 electrons in its2p orbital:2p^6 . -
Its
3s orbital is full. There are2 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has2 electrons in its3s orbital:3s^2 . -
Its
3p orbital is full. There are6 electrons in ans orbital; this means that it has6 electrons in its3p orbital:3p^6 .
Putting it all together, we get