2.3.4

Electron Configuration

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Electronic Structure

Electrons have fixed positions in atoms called shells or energy levels. These shells (or energy levels) go around the atom's nucleus.

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Filling electron shells

  • Electrons fill an atom's shells in order of increasing energy.
    • The closer a shell is to the nucleus, the lower its energy level, so the first shell that is filled is the closest to the nucleus.
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Electron configuration

  • Electron configuration tells us how an atom's electrons are organised.
  • The innershell (closest to the nucleus) can have a maximum of 2 electrons and the next two shells can have a maximum of 8 electrons.
  • Any extra electrons are then put into a fourth shell.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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