OBJECTIVE
Determine and distinguish the
terms: electron configuration,
valence electron,group and period
Learning Target:
I can determine the electron
configuration, valence
electron, group and period
of the given elements
Electron Configuration – The
arrangement of electrons in an atom's
orbitals, following the Mnemonic
Example: The electron configuration of
oxygen is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴.
Valence Electrons – The electrons in the outermost
shell (energy level) of an atom. These electrons are
responsible for an element's chemical bonding and
reactivity. For example, carbon (C) has 4 valence
electrons (2 in the 2s orbital and 2 in the 2p orbital).
Group of Elements (Group) – A vertical column in
the periodic table. Elements in the same group
share similar chemical properties because they
have the same number of valence electrons. For
example, Group 1 (alkali metals) includes
lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K), all
of which have one valence electron.
Period of Elements (Period) – A
horizontal row in the periodic table.
Elements in the same period have the
same number of electron shells (energy
levels). For example, all elements in
Period 3 (such as sodium, magnesium,
and aluminum) have three electron
shells.
ELECTRON CONFIGURATION MNEMONIC
2 2 6 2 6 2 10 6 2 10
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p 5s 4d
6 2 14 10 6 2 14 10 6
5p 6s 4f 5d 6p 7s 5f 6d 7p
GROUP 1 – Alkali Metals - Highly reactive metals that readily lose one electron to form +1 ions.
Group 2 – Alkaline Earth Metals - Reactive metals, though less so than alkali metals, that lose two
electrons to form +2 ions
Group 3 -12 – Transition Metals - Typically form colored compounds
Group 13 – Boron Group - Boron is a metalloid, while the rest are metals
Group 14 – Carbon Group - Carbon is a nonmetal, silicon and germanium are metalloids, and the rest
are metals.
Group 15 – Pnictogens - Can form -3 ions or various positive oxidation states.
Group 16 – Chalcogens - Tend to form -2 ions or various positive oxidation states.
Group 17 – Halogens - Highly reactive nonmetals
Group 18 – Noble Gas - Very unreactive, colorless gases
EXAMPLES:
Sodium (Na)-11
•Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
•Valence Electron(s): 1 (3s¹)
•Group: 1 (Alkali metals)
•Period: 3 (highest energy level)
•Oxygen (O)-8
•Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴
•Valence Electron(s): 6 (2s² 2p⁴)
•Group: 16/6 (Nonmetal)
•Period: 2 (2 highest energy level)
Chlorine (Cl)- 17
3.
•Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁵
•Valence Electron(s): 7 (3s² 3p⁵)
•Group: 17/7 (Halogens)
•Period: 3
4. Calcium (Ca)- 20
•Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s²
•Valence Electron(s): 2 (4s²)
•Group: 2 (Alkaline earth metals)
•Period: 4 (4 highest energy level)
5. Neon (Ne)-10
•Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
•Valence Electron(s): 8 (2s² 2p⁶)
•Group: 18/8 (Noble gases)
•Period: 2 (2 highest energy level)
•Tin- Sn
•Atomic Number: 50
•Long Electron Configuration:
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p²
•Valence Electrons: 4 (from the 5s² 5p² orbitals)
•Group: 14/4 (IVA) (Carbon group) 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p²
•Period: 5
Show the electron configuration,
valence electron, group and period of
the following elements with their atomic
number:
1. Manganese-25 ELECTRON CONFIGURATION
2. Cadmium-48 MNEMONIC
2 2 6 2 6 2 10
3. Mercury-80 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d
4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10
4. Meitnerium-109 6 2 14 10 6
6p 7s 5f 6d 7p
5. Livermorium-116
