Electrons Electrons Electrons
Electron Configuration… Just a bunch of circles….? Not quite!
Electron Arrangement The electrons that surround the nucleus of an atom are arranged in shells . Each shell has a maximum number of electrons that can exist in that shell.
Up to 2 electrons can exist in the first shell Up to 8 electrons can exist in the second and third shell Up to 18 electrons can exist in the fourth and fifth shell 8 2 8
Basic Atom Electron Nucleus Shell or Orbit
Beryllium Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Boron Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Carbon Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Nitrogen Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Oxygen Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Fluorine Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Neon Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Sodium Atom Electrons Protons Neutrons
Drawing electron dot diagrams We can draw diagrams to show the arrangement of the electrons in each element. This is called an electron dot diagram Note the example below (the symbol is put in the middle and the electrons around in shells)
Electron Configurations The arrangement of the electrons in the electron shells can be written as an electron configuration. Looking at the sodium atom below, there are 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 electrons in the second shell, and 1 electron in the third shell. This can be written as: 2, 8, 1
How does this relate to the Periodic Table? Fact 1: Elements in the same group have the same number of electrons in the outer shell (this correspond to their group number) H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Fe Ni Cu Zn Br Kr Ag I Xe Pt Au Hg These elements have __ electrons in their outer shells These elements have __ electrons in their outer shell E.g. all group 1 metals have __ electron in their outer shell
How does this relate to the Periodic Table? Fact 2: As you move down through the periods an extra electron shell is added. E.g. Lithium has 3 electron in the configuration 2,1 H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Fe Ni Cu Zn Br Kr Ag I Xe Pt Au Hg Sodium has 11 electrons in the configuration 2,8,1 Potassium has 19 electrons in the configuration __,__,__
How does this relate to the Periodic Table? Fact 3: (Most important) All of the elements in the same group have similar properties. H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Fe Ni Cu Zn Br Kr Ag I Xe Pt Au Hg E.g. consider the Group I metals. They: Are soft Can be easily cut with a knife React with water