List of Electron Configurations of Elements

This list of electron configurations of elements contains all the elements in increasing order of atomic number.

To save room, the configurations are in noble gas shorthand. This means part of the electron configuration has been replaced with the element symbol of the noble gas symbol. Look up the electronic configuration of that noble gas and include that value before the rest of the configuration. This table is available to download as a PDF to use as a study sheet.

Values denoted by an asterisk are predictions based on periodic table trends. Actual configurations have not been verified.

How to Find Electron Configuration

The electron configuration states where electrons are likely to be in an atom. If you don’t have a chart, you can still find the electron configuration. Use the element blocks of the periodic table to find the highest electron orbital. Alternatively, remember group 1 (alkali metals) and group 2 (alkaline earth metals) are s-block, groups 2 through 12 are the d-block, 13 to 18 are the p-block, and the two rows at the bottom of the table (the lanthanides and actinides) are f-block. The period or row numbers 1 through 7 are the energy levels of the elements.

The s orbital holds a maximum of 2 electrons. The p orbital can hold 6. The d orbital can hold 10. The f orbital can hold 14 electrons. But, the orbitals overlap. The Madelung rule gives the order:

1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s < 3d < 4p < 5s < 4d < 5p < 6s < 4f < 5d < 6p < 7s < 5f < 6d < 7p

Oganesson (element 118) is a good example to show the order of the orbitals. Its electron configuration is:

 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p⁶ 7s² 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7p⁶

Alternatively, write the symbol for the noble gas before an element (radon, in this case), and just add the extra information:

[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁶

Keep in mind, electron configurations are most stable when they are filled or half-filled. Also, the real electron configuration of an atom may differ from the prediction because of relativistic effects, shielding, etc.

References

• Langmuir, Irving (June 1919). “The Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms and Molecules”. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 41 (6): 868–934. doi:10.1021/ja02227a002
• Madelung, Erwin (1936). Mathematische Hilfsmittel des Physikers. Berlin: Springer.
• Rayner-Canham, Geoff; Overton, Tina (2014). Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry (6th ed.). Macmillan Education. ISBN 978-1-319-15411-0.