Christina Liao

Electron Mnemonic

Electron Configuration

How many electrons can fit into each orbital?

How many electrons can fit into each type of subshell?

2

s2 p6 d10 f14

So how do you remember that?

…You can use a periodic table

But you don’t always have a periodic tableSo you can use quantum numbers

If the principal quantum number equals zero, then there are no orbitals. If the principal quantum number equals one, then the angular momentum quantum number will equal zero, and the magnetic quantum number will equal zero, which means that there is one orbital. Because there is one orbital, this subshell can hold two electrons. If the principal quantum number equals two, then the angular momentum quantum number will equal zero or one, and the magnetic quantum number will equal negative one, zero, or one, which means that there are three orbitals. Because there are three orbitals, this subshell can hold six electrons. If the principal quantum number equals three, then the angular momentum quantum number will equal zero, one or two, and the magnetic quantum number will equal either negative two, negative one, zero, one, or two, which means that there are five orbitals. Because there are five orbitals, this subshell can hold blah blah blah…

In short, the number of orbitals is determined by the magnetic quantum number. Multiply the number of orbitals

by two to get the number of electrons.

But you might not remember that,

So Ponies Disallowed Fingerpointing

So*2 letters*s orbital holds up to two electrons

SO GOOD!

Ponies*6 letters*p orbital can hold maximum of 6 electrons

6 Ponies 6 Letters 6 Electrons

Disallowed*10 letters*d orbital can hold maximum of 10 electrons

No Nicht Ne Non Nie Bu ノー

Fingerpointing*14 letters*f orbital can hold maximum of 14 electrons

POW