Electronic configurations

The arrangement of the electrons within a particular element can be described by an electronic configuration. This shows, with varying degrees of detail, how the electrons are arranged. Here are four different ways of writing the electronic configuration of an oxygen atom (atomic number = 8).

Short electronic configuration

2, 6

Full electronic configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁴

Full electronic configuration
showing occupancy of orbitals

1s² 2s² 2p_x² 2p_y¹ 2p_z¹

Electrons in boxes notation


1s		2s		2p

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