Electron Configuration Definition, Types, Examples & Uses

Electron Configuration

Subject: Chemistry

Book: General Chemistry

Electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed in an atom’s orbitals. Following the Aufbau principle, electrons fill the lowest-energy orbitals first (1s before 2s, then 2p, 3s, 3p, etc.). Pauli’s exclusion principle states that no two electrons can have the same set of quantum numbers, while Hund’s rule emphasizes maximizing unpaired electrons in degenerate orbitals. Properly writing electron configurations (e.g., 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 ...) is essential to understanding bonding, magnetism, and reactivity.