Question

Explain condensed orbital notation of electronic configuration of an atom.

Answer 1

• The orbital notation of electronic configuration of an element with high atomic number comprises a long train of symbols of orbitals with an increasing order of energy.
• It can be condensed by dividing it into two parts: Inner or core part of electronic configuration and outer electronic configuration.
• Electronic configuration of the preceding inert gas is a part of the electronic configuration of any element. In the condensed orbital notation, it is implied by writing symbol of that inert gas in a square bracket. It is core part of the electronic configuration of that element. The outer electronic configuration is specific to a particular element and written immediately after the bracket.
• For example, the orbital notation of potassium ‘K (Z = 19) is Is² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹’. Its core part is the electronic configuration of the preceding inert gas argon ‘Ar : 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶, while ‘4s ’ is an outer part. Therefore, the condensed orbital notation of electronic configuration of potassium is ‘K: [Ar] 4s².'

Note : 

Electronic configuration of the elements with atomic numbers 1 to 30 is as follows :