Electron configuration

Definition

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's atomic orbitals. It follows a set of rules, including the Pauli exclusion principle and Hund's rule, to show how these electrons are arranged around the nucleus.

Related terms

Orbital: A region in an atom where there is a high probability of finding electrons.

Pauli Exclusion Principle: A principle stating that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.

Hund's Rule: A rule stating that every orbital in a subshell gets filled with one electron before any one orbital gets a second electron