Activity Sheet-10 (Electronic Configuration)
Activity Sheet-10 (Electronic Configuration)
Activity Sheet-10 (Electronic Configuration)
Lesson objectives:
By the end of this lesson, about 70% of the learners should be able to:
Define the terms nucleus, electronic configuration and write electronic configuration
Electronic configuration
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Definition: The nucleus of an atom is a tiny dense positively charged central region of
an atom.
Activity 01: Number the shells on the diagram below round the nucleus.
nucleus
The electronic configuration of an atom can be written if the total number of electrons in
the atom is known. The number of electrons in an atom is equal to its atomic number.
The electronic configuration of an ion can be written if the total number of electrons in
the ion is known. The number of electrons in an ion is equal to its atomic number minus
the charge on the ion.
The first shell of every atom takes a maximum of two (2) electrons except hydrogen
atom which has only one electron.
The first shell of hydrogen has only one electron as hydrogen has only one electron.
From the second shell of an atom onward, a maximum of eight (8) electrons can be
entered. These rules apply on to the first twenty elements on the periodic Table.
Hydrogen
Helium
Lithium
Fluorine
Neon
Sulphur
Argon
Potassium
Calcium
symbol
H
He
Li
F
Ne
S
Ar
K
Ca
Atomic
number
1
2
3
9
10
16
18
19
20
Number of electrons
Electronic configuration
Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus while electrons are distributed in shells in a
pattern called the electronic configuration.
The diagrams below show two different ways by which the distribution of sub-atomic
particles in an atom can be represented. One way is shown for a helium (He) atom and
another way for a sodium (Na) atom.
Activity 03:
(a) (i) How many protons are there in the nucleus of a helium atom? .
(ii) How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of a helium atom? .
(iii) How many electrons are there in the shell of a helium atom? .
(iv) Write down the electronic configuration of helium.
(b) (i) How many protons are there in the nucleus of a sodium atom?
(ii) How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of a sodium atom?
(iii) How many electrons are there in the shell of a sodium atom?
(iv) Write down the electronic configuration of sodium.
Every atom is electrically neutral. This is because it contains equal number of protons
and electrons.
Activity 04:
(a) Is an atom with 10 protons and 10 electrons neutral? Explain. ..