So, the electron will enter the 4s orbital first and enter the 3d orbital when the 4s orbital is full. Here, the energy of 4s orbital is less than that of 3d. The orbital for which the value of (n + l) is lower is the low energy orbital and the electron will enter that orbital first. The energy of an orbital is calculated from the value of the principal quantum number ‘n’ and the azimuthal quantum number ‘l’. The Aufbau principle is that the electrons present in the atom will first complete the lowest energy orbital and then gradually continue to complete the higher energy orbital. The Aufbau method is to do electron configuration through the sub-energy level. The main proponents of this principle are scientists Niels Bohr and Pauli. The sub-energy level ‘s’ can hold a maximum of two electrons, ‘p’ can hold a maximum of six electrons, ‘d’ can hold a maximum of ten electrons, and ‘f’ can hold a maximum of fourteen electrons.Įlectron configuration via Aufbau principleĪufbau is a German word, which means building up. Each orbital can have a maximum of two electrons. The orbital number of the s-subshell is one, three in the p-subshell, five in the d-subshell and seven in the f-subshell. The number of sub-shells will be 5 but 4s, 4p, 4d, and 4f in these four subshells it is possible to arrange the electrons of all the elements of the periodic table. So, the sub-energy levels are 4s, 4p, 4d, and 4f. Therefore, the value of ‘l’ is 0, 1, 2, 3. So, the sub-energy levels are 3s, 3p, and 3d. So, the sub-energy levels are 2s, and 2p. The sub-energy levels are known as s, p, d, and f.

The sub-energy levels depend on the azimuthal quantum number. The most probable region of electron rotation around the nucleus is called the orbital. These sub-energy levels are also called orbital. Electron configuration of carbon through orbitalĪtomic energy shells are subdivided into sub-energy levels. The electron configuration of all the elements can be done through the orbital diagram. The electron configuration of an element with an atomic number greater than 18 cannot be properly determined according to the Bohr atomic model. Electrons can be arranged correctly through orbits from elements 1 to 18. Therefore, the order of the number of electrons in each shell of the carbon(C) atom is 2, 4. Therefore, a carbon atom will have two electrons in the first shell and four in the 2nd shell.

That is, the number of electrons in carbon is 6. The atomic number is the number of electrons in that element. Therefore, the maximum electron holding capacity in the first shell is two, the second shell is eight and the 3rd shell can have a maximum of eighteen electrons. The maximum electrons holding capacity in N orbit is 2n 2 = 2 × 4 2 = 32. The maximum electrons holding capacity in M orbit is 2n 2 = 2 × 3 2 = 18. The maximum electron holding capacity in L orbit is 2n 2 = 2 × 2 2 = 8. The maximum electron holding capacity in K orbit is 2n 2 = 2 × 1 2 = 2. The electron holding capacity of each orbit is 2n 2. K is the name of the first orbit, L is the second, M is the third, and N is the name of the fourth orbit. These circular paths are called orbit(shell). The electrons of the atom revolve around the nucleus in a certain circular path. The complete idea of the orbit is given there. Scientist Niels Bohr was the first to give an idea of the atom’s orbit. Carbon atom electron configuration through orbit For example Aufbau principle, Hund’s principle, and Pauli’s exclusion principle. Electron configuration through orbitals follows different principles.

Carbon electronic structure