Question

What is the distribution of electrons in carbon and sodium atom?

Answer 1

Electronic configuration: The arrangement of electrons into the orbitals of an atom using some fundamental principle is called its electronic configuration.

Distribution of electrons in carbon:

• The atomic number of carbon is $6$.
• The electronic configuration of carbon atom is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^2$.
• So, the first two electrons are in the $1s$ orbital, the next two electrons are in the $2s$ orbital, and the next two electrons are in the $2p$ orbitals.

Distribution of electrons in sodium:

• The atomic number of sodium is $11$.
• The electronic configuration of the sodium atom is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{\text{1}}$.
• So, the first two electrons are in the $1s$ orbital, the next two electrons are in the $2s$ orbital, the next six electrons are in the $2p$ orbitals, and the remaining one is in the $3s$ orbital.