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Worked Examples on Electron Configuration 

1a).  Give the electronic configuration of Calcium in terms of s,p, and d orbitals if applicable.

Calcium has 20 electrons, so the configuration is as follows

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2 , 3p6 , 4s2

If you add up all the red numbers then they should add up to 20. 

1b).  Show the arrangement of the electrons in boxes.

1s2            2s2                2p6               3s2             3p6                    4s2

1s2      2s2          2p6            2p6            2p6             3s2       3p6            3p6            3p6               4s2   

1c).  Show the electrons in boxes arrangement of a Ca2+ ion.

A calcium atom must lose two electrons to become an ion.  It loses the outer 4s2 electrons, so its configuration is as follows...

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2 , 3p6 

2a).  Give the electronic configuration of iron.

Iron has 26 electrons, so the electronic configuration is the same as that for calcium but the rest of the electrons go into the 3d orbital. 

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2 , 3p6 , 4s2 , 3d6

1s2           2s2                   2p6                    3s2                   3p6           

1s2       2s2           2p6            2p6            2p6                 3s2         3p6               3p6              3p6                  

2b)  Show the arrangement of the electrons in boxes.

1s2             2s2                  2p6          3s2                  3p6                 4s2                   3d6

1s2      2s2          2p6            2p6            2p6             3s2       3p6            3p6            3p6              4s2         3d6       3d61 3d61 3d61 3d61

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