1. Electron Energy Levels
The electrons move around the nucleus in the electron cloud.
Electrons move in different energy levels as they orbit the nucleus.
Each energy level can hold up to a specific amount of electrons:
1st energy level: holds up to 2 electrons
2nd energy level: holds up to 8 electrons
3rd energy level: holds up to 8 electrons

2. How to Draw
Bohr Diagrams

3. Bohr Diagrams Find carbon on the periodic table.
Determine the number of electrons – it is the same as the atomic number.
This is how many electrons you will draw.

4. Bohr Diagrams Find out which period (row) your element is in.
Elements in the 1st period have one energy level.
Elements in the 2nd period have two energy levels, and so on.

5. Bohr Diagrams Draw a nucleus with the protons and neutrons inside.
Carbon is in the 2nd period, so it has two energy levels, or shells.
Draw the shells around the nucleus.
__P
__N

6. Bohr Diagrams Draw a nucleus with the protons and neutrons inside.
Carbon is in the 2nd period, so it has two energy levels, or shells.
Draw the shells around the nucleus.
6 P
6 N

7. Bohr Diagrams Add the electrons. Carbon has 6 electrons.
The first shell can only hold 2 electrons.
6 P
6 N

8. Bohr Diagrams
Since you have 2 electrons already drawn, you need to add 4 more.
These go in the 2nd shell.
Add one at a time -starting on the right side and going counter clock-wise.
6 P
6 N

9. C Bohr Diagrams 6 P 6 N Check your work.
You should have 6 total electrons for Carbon.
Only two electrons can fit in the 1st shell.
The 2nd shell can hold up to 8 electrons.
The 3rd shell can hold 18, but the elements in the first few periods only use 8 electrons.
6 P
6 N C

10. C Bohr Diagrams Try the following elements on your own: 6 P 6 N H He OAl Ne K
6 P
6 N C

11. H Bohr Diagrams Try the following elements on your own: 1 P 0 N
H – 1 electron He O Al Ne K
1 P
0 N H

12. Bohr Diagrams He Try the following elements on your own: 2 P 2 N H
He - 2 electrons O Al Ne K
2 P
2 N He

13. Bohr Diagrams Try the following elements on your own: 8 P 8 N H He
O - 8 electrons Al Ne K
8 P
8 N

14. Bohr Diagrams Al Try the following elements on your own: 13P 14N H He
Al - 13 electrons Ne K
13P 14N Al

15. Bohr Diagrams Ne Try the following elements on your own: 10P 10N H HeAl
Ne - 10 electrons K
10P
10N Ne

16. Bohr Diagrams K Try the following elements on your own: 19P 20N H He OAl Ne
K - 19 electrons
19P
20N K