Atom Diagrams: Electron Configurations of the Elements

Science, Tech, Math › Science Atom Diagrams Showing Electron Shell Configurations of the Elements Print KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images Science Chemistry Periodic Table Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on November 05, 2019 It’s easier to understand electron configuration and valence if you can actually see the electrons surrounding atoms. For that, we have electron shell diagrams. Here are electron shell atom diagrams for the elements, ordered by increasing atomic number. For each electron shell atom diagram, the element symbol is listed in the nucleus. The electron shells are shown, moving outward from the nucleus. The final ring or shell of electrons contains the typical number of valence electrons for an atom of that element. The element atomic number and name are listed in the upper left. The upper right side shows the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Remember, a neutral atom contains the same number of protons and electrons. The isotope is defined by the number of neutrons in an atom, which might be equal to the number of protons—or not. An ion of an atom is one in which the number of protons and electrons is not the same. If there are more protons than electrons, an atomic ion has a positive charge and is called a cation. If there are more electrons than protons, the ion has a negative charge and is called an anion. Elements are shown from atomic number 1 (hydrogen) up to 94 (plutonium). However, it’s easy to determine the configuration of electrons for heavier elements by making a chart. Hydrogen Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Helium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Lithium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Lithium is the first element in which an additional electron shell is added. Remember, the valence electrons are found in the outermost shell. The filling of the electron shells depends on their orbital. The first orbital (an s orbital) can contain only two electrons. Beryllium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Boron Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Carbon Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Nitrogen Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Oxygen Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Fluorine Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Neon Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Sodium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Magnesium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Aluminium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Silicon Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Phosphorus Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Sulfur Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Chlorine Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Argon Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Potassium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Calcium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Scandium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Titanium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Vanadium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Chromium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Manganese Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Iron Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Cobalt Greg RobsonCC BY 2.0 Nickel Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Copper Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Zinc Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Gallium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Germanium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Arsenic Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Selenium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Bromine Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Krypton Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Rubidium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Strontium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Yttrium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Zirconium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Niobium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Molybdenum Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Technetium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Ruthenium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Rhodium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Palladium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Silver Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Cadmium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Indium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Tin Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Antimony Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Tellurium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Iodine Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Xenon Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Caesium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Barium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Lanthanum Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Cerium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Praseodymium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Neodymium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Promethium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Samarium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Europium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Gadolinium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Terbium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Dysprosium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Holmium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Erbium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Thulium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Ytterbium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Lutetium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Hafnium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Tantalum Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Tungsten Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Rhenium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Osmium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Iridium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Platinum Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Gold Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Mercury Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Thallium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Lead Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Bismuth Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Polonium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Astatine Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Radon Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Francium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Radium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Actinium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Thorium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Protactinium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Uranium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Neptunium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Plutonium Greg Robson/CC BY 2.0 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. “Atom Diagrams Showing Electron Shell Configurations of the Elements.” ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/atoms-diagrams-electron-configurations-elements-4064658. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2021, February 16). Atom Diagrams Showing Electron Shell Configurations of the Elements. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/atoms-diagrams-electron-configurations-elements-4064658 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. “Atom Diagrams Showing Electron Shell Configurations of the Elements.” ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/atoms-diagrams-electron-configurations-elements-4064658 (accessed July 26, 2024). copy citation