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In each term of an electron configuration, n is the positive integer that precedes each orbital letter (helium's electron configuration is 1s 2, therefore n = 1, and the orbital contains two electrons). An atom's nth electron shell can accommodate 2n 2 electrons. For example, the first shell can accommodate two electrons, the second shell eight ...
As an approximate rule, electron configurations are given by the Aufbau principle and the Madelung rule. However there are numerous exceptions; for example the lightest exception is chromium, which would be predicted to have the configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 3d 4 4s 2 , written as [Ar] 3d 4 4s 2 , but whose actual configuration given ...
The process to calculate all possible term symbols for a given electron configuration is somewhat longer. First, the total number of possible states N is calculated for a given electron configuration. As before, the filled (sub)shells are discarded, and only the partially filled ones are kept.
Configurations of elements 109 and above are not available. Predictions from reliable sources have been used for these elements. Grayed out electron numbers indicate subshells filled to their maximum. Bracketed noble gas symbols on the left represent inner configurations that are the same in each period. Written out, these are: He, 2, helium : 1s 2
The lightest atom that requires the second rule to determine the ground state term is titanium (Ti, Z = 22) with electron configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 3d 2 4s 2. In this case the open shell is 3d 2 and the allowed terms include three singlets ( 1 S, 1 D, and 1 G) and two triplets ( 3 P and 3 F).
Each is therefore an unpaired electron, but the total spin is zero and the multiplicity is 2S + 1 = 1 despite the two unpaired electrons. The multiplicity of the second excited state is therefore not equal to the number of its unpaired electrons plus one, and the rule which is usually true for ground states is invalid for this excited state.
The collapse of the 5g orbital itself is delayed until around element 125 (unbipentium or eka-neptunium); the electron configurations of the 119-electron isoelectronic series are expected to be [Og]8s 1 for elements 119 through 122, [Og]6f 1 for elements 123 and 124, and [Og]5g 1 for element 125 onwards. [84]
The rule then predicts the electron configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 3d 9 4s 2, abbreviated [Ar] 3d 9 4s 2 where [Ar] denotes the configuration of argon, the preceding noble gas. However, the measured electron configuration of the copper atom is [Ar] 3d 10 4s 1. By filling the 3d subshell, copper can be in a lower energy state.