Electron Configuration Worksheet

Electron Configuration Worksheet

Read each question carefully and provide detailed answers. Show all your work for calculations.

1. What are the three fundamental rules that govern the filling of electrons into atomic orbitals? Briefly explain each rule.

2. Based on the illustration of the atom above, describe the electron cloud model and how it relates to electron probability.

3. The principal quantum number (n) describes the   of an electron, while the angular momentum quantum number (l) describes the   of the orbital.

4. For an electron in a 3p orbital, the possible values for the magnetic quantum number (m_l) are  .

5. Which of the following elements has the electron configuration [Ar] 4s² 3d⁵?

6. Which of the following represents a valid set of quantum numbers (n, l, m_l, m_s) for an electron?

7. Write the full electron configuration and draw the orbital diagram for a neutral atom of Sulfur (S).

Electron Configuration:  

8. Explain why exceptions to the Aufbau principle occur for certain elements, such as Chromium (Cr) and Copper (Cu). Provide the electron configurations for both elements to support your explanation.

9. According to Hund's rule, electrons will pair up in an orbital before all orbitals of the same sublevel are occupied by a single electron.

10. The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in the same atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.