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How to Write a Noble Gas Configuration for Atoms of an Element Download ArticleExplore this Article parts 1 Writing the Normal Electron Configuration of an Element 2 Writing the Noble Gas Electron Configuration Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Sean Alexander, MS
Last Updated: December 11, 2023 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Sean Alexander, MS. Sean Alexander is an Academic Tutor specializing in teaching mathematics and physics. Sean is the Owner of Alexander Tutoring, an academic tutoring business that provides personalized studying sessions focused on mathematics and physics. With over 15 years of experience, Sean has worked as a physics and math instructor and tutor for Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Stanbridge Academy. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MS in Theoretical Physics from San Francisco State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 223,158 times.
Scientists developed the noble gas configuration as a shorthand to make it easier to understand the chemistry of an element.[1]XResearch source The noble gas configuration is written as the elemental symbol of the noble gas in the period before the element followed by the element’s remaining electrons. For instance, sodium’s full configuration is 1s2s222p63s1 and neon’s is 1s2s222p6. So, sodium’s noble gas configuration is [Ne]3s1.
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Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Writing the Normal Electron Configuration of an Element
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1 Identify the number of electrons present in the element. The atomic number of an element tells you the number of protons it has. Because elements in their neutral state have the same number of protons and electrons, you can also use the atomic number as the number of electrons the element has. The atomic number, which can be found on the periodic table, is the number written directly above the symbol for the element.[2]XResearch source
For example, the symbol for sodium is Na. The atomic number for Na is 11.
2 Know about electron shells and energy levels. The first electron shell has only the s energy level, the second electron shell has both an s and p energy level. The third electron shell has an s, p, and d energy level. The fourth electron shell has an s, p, d, and f energy level. There are more than four electron shells, but for a standard chemistry course you will generally only use the first four.[3]XResearch source
Each s energy level can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.
Each p energy level can hold a maximum of 6 electrons.
Each d energy level can hold a maximum of 10 electrons.
Each f energy level can hold a maximum of 14 electrons.
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3 Learn the rules for electron filling. According to the Aufbau principle, you must add electrons to the lowest energy levels before an electron can be added to a higher energy level. Each energy level may have multiple suborbitals, but each suborbital can hold a maximum of two electrons at any given time. The s energy level has one suborbital, p has 3 suborbitals, d has 5 suborbitals, and f has 7 suborbitals.[4]XResearch source
The d energy level has a slightly higher energy than the s energy level of the lower electron shell, so the higher s energy level will fill before the lower d energy level. For writing an electron configuration this means it will look like this: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d10.
4 Use the diagonal configuration chart to write electron configurations. The easiest way to remember how electrons fill is to use the configuration chart. This is where you write out each shell and the energy levels within it. Draw diagonal lines from the top right through to the bottom left of each line. The configuration chart looks like this:[5]XResearch source
For example: The electron configuration of sodium (11 electrons) is 1s22s22p63s1.
5 Recognize what the last orbital of each configuration will be. By looking at the periodic table, you can determine what the last subshell and energy level of the electron configuration will be. First determine which block the element falls in (s, p, d, or f). Then count which row the element is in. Finally, count which column the element is in.[6]XResearch source
For example, sodium is in the s block, so the last orbital of its electron configuration will be s. It is in the third row and the first column, therefore the last orbital is 3s1. This is a good way to double-check your final answer.
The rule is a little bit different for the d orbital. The first row of d-block elements starts in the fourth row, but you must subtract 1 from the row number because the s levels are lower energy than the d levels. For example, vanadium ends with 3d3.[7]XResearch source
Another way to double check your work is to add all of the superscripts together. They should equal the number of electrons in the element. If you have too few or too many electrons, you will need to look over your work and try again.
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Writing the Noble Gas Electron Configuration
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1 Understand the noble gas electron configuration. The noble gas electron configuration is a type of shortcut to writing out the full electron configuration of an element. The noble gas shorthand is used to summarize the electron configuration of an element while providing the most relevant information about the valence electrons of that element.[8]XResearch source
The noble gas is substituted to represent all of the electrons that aren’t valence electrons.
The noble gases are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon and are found in the last column of the periodic table.
2 Identify the noble gas in the period before your element. The period of an element is the horizontal row that the element is located in. If the element is in the fourth row of the periodic table, it is in period four. The noble gas you will use will be located in period three. Below is a list of the noble gases and their periods:[9]XResearch source
1: Helium
2: Neon
3: Argon
4: Krypton
5: Xenon
6: Radon
For example, sodium is in period three. We will use neon for the noble gas configuration because it is in period 2.
3 Substitute the noble gas for the same number of electrons the noble gas has. There are a few ways to do this next step. You can physically write out the electron configuration for the noble gas and then replace that same configuration in your element of interest. An alternative is to remove the same number of electrons the noble gas has from the element you are writing the configuration for.[10]XResearch source
For example, sodium has 11 electrons and neon has 10 electrons.
The full electron configuration for sodium is 1s2s222p63s1 and neon is 1s2s222p6. As you can see, sodium has a 3s1 that neon does not have, therefore, the noble gas configuration for sodium would be [Ne]3s1.
Alternatively, you can count the superscripts of the energy levels until you get to ten. Remove these energy levels and leave what remains. When using neon to write the electron configuration for sodium, you will have one electron leftover: [Ne]3s1.
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Question What is the noble gas notation for lead? Community Answer The noble gas notation for lead is [Xe]6s2 4f14 5d10 6P2. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 28
Question What is the noble gas configuration for a noble gas? Would you go to the previous noble gas or simply put in brackets? Community Answer You would use the noble gas before it. The noble gas for Neon (Ne) is [He] 2s2 2p6. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 19
Question What are noble gases? Community Answer Any element in column 16. They also have eight valence electrons, so they don't need to gain or lose electrons. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 8
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Only in a neutral atom does the atomic number equal the number of electrons. An ion contains a different number of electrons. If the ion has a negative one charge, it will have one extra electron. A negative two charge has two extra electrons, etc. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
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Co-authored by: Sean Alexander, MS Physics Tutor This article was co-authored by Sean Alexander, MS. Sean Alexander is an Academic Tutor specializing in teaching mathematics and physics. Sean is the Owner of Alexander Tutoring, an academic tutoring business that provides personalized studying sessions focused on mathematics and physics. With over 15 years of experience, Sean has worked as a physics and math instructor and tutor for Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Stanbridge Academy. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MS in Theoretical Physics from San Francisco State University. This article has been viewed 223,158 times. 51 votes - 73% Co-authors: 12Updated: December 11, 2023 Views: 223,158 Categories: Science Writing | Chemistry In other languages German French Dutch Spanish Portuguese Japanese
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Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Writing the Normal Electron Configuration of an Element 2 Writing the Noble Gas Electron Configuration Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Sean Alexander, MS 
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Co-authored by: Sean Alexander, MS Physics Tutor This article was co-authored by Sean Alexander, MS. Sean Alexander is an Academic Tutor specializing in teaching mathematics and physics. Sean is the Owner of Alexander Tutoring, an academic tutoring business that provides personalized studying sessions focused on mathematics and physics. With over 15 years of experience, Sean has worked as a physics and math instructor and tutor for Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Stanbridge Academy. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MS in Theoretical Physics from San Francisco State University. This article has been viewed 223,158 times. 51 votes - 73% Co-authors: 12 Updated: December 11, 2023 Views: 223,158 Categories: Science Writing | Chemistry In other languages German French Dutch Spanish Portuguese Japanese 
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1 Identify the number of electrons present in the element. The atomic number of an element tells you the number of protons it has. Because elements in their neutral state have the same number of protons and electrons, you can also use the atomic number as the number of electrons the element has. The atomic number, which can be found on the periodic table, is the number written directly above the symbol for the element.[2] 
2 Know about electron shells and energy levels. The first electron shell has only the s energy level, the second electron shell has both an s and p energy level. The third electron shell has an s, p, and d energy level. The fourth electron shell has an s, p, d, and f energy level. There are more than four electron shells, but for a standard chemistry course you will generally only use the first four.[3] 
3 Learn the rules for electron filling. According to the Aufbau principle, you must add electrons to the lowest energy levels before an electron can be added to a higher energy level. Each energy level may have multiple suborbitals, but each suborbital can hold a maximum of two electrons at any given time. The s energy level has one suborbital, p has 3 suborbitals, d has 5 suborbitals, and f has 7 suborbitals.[4] 
4 Use the diagonal configuration chart to write electron configurations. The easiest way to remember how electrons fill is to use the configuration chart. This is where you write out each shell and the energy levels within it. Draw diagonal lines from the top right through to the bottom left of each line. The configuration chart looks like this:[5] 
5 Recognize what the last orbital of each configuration will be. By looking at the periodic table, you can determine what the last subshell and energy level of the electron configuration will be. First determine which block the element falls in (s, p, d, or f). Then count which row the element is in. Finally, count which column the element is in.[6] 
1 Understand the noble gas electron configuration. The noble gas electron configuration is a type of shortcut to writing out the full electron configuration of an element. The noble gas shorthand is used to summarize the electron configuration of an element while providing the most relevant information about the valence electrons of that element.[8] 
2 Identify the noble gas in the period before your element. The period of an element is the horizontal row that the element is located in. If the element is in the fourth row of the periodic table, it is in period four. The noble gas you will use will be located in period three. Below is a list of the noble gases and their periods:[9] 
3 Substitute the noble gas for the same number of electrons the noble gas has. There are a few ways to do this next step. You can physically write out the electron configuration for the noble gas and then replace that same configuration in your element of interest. An alternative is to remove the same number of electrons the noble gas has from the element you are writing the configuration for.[10] 
Community Answer The noble gas notation for lead is [Xe]6s2 4f14 5d10 6P2. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 28 
Community Answer You would use the noble gas before it. The noble gas for Neon (Ne) is [He] 2s2 2p6. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 19 