electronic diagrams

Writing Electron Diagrams (boxes)

You need a periodic table and to be able to do electron configurations before you can do this section.

Step 1: write your electron configuration (example):

Sulfur Si: 1s², 2s², 2p⁶, 3s², 3p²

Set up boxes above your orbital configuration:

s sublevel = 1 box

p sublevel = 3 boxes/orbitals

d sublevel = 5 boxes/orbitals

f sublevel = 7 boxes/orbitals

Use arrows to fill in starting with the 1s. Your exponents from your configuration will tell you the amount of arrows.

Note, electrons will fill their own electrons before existing in the same orbital/box.

If they are in separate orbitals, they have parallel spin, if they are crammed together they have opposite spin.

3 Rules to know (see your notes)

Aufbau Principle

Pauli exclusion Principle

Hund's rule

Video for clarity:

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