The AUFBAU principle header image

Working out electronic configurations

This page is intended as an extension of the AUFBAU principle page and the activity below is designed to help you practice working out the electronic configurations for the elements listed in the drop-down menu; simply select an element from the drop-down menu and press the check button when you are done.


Click a dotted slot to place/remove ↑ or ↓. Top is higher energybottom is lower energy.
Use Reset before the next element.
3d — 5 orbitals
4s — 1 orbital
3p — 3 orbitals
3s — 1 orbital
2p — 3 orbitals
2s — 1 orbital
1s — 1 orbital