Electron Configuration Question

[askor]

There are two kind of electron configuration as I read so far.
There are one such as spdf and other such as, for example, 2 8 8 2.
What is the name of these electron configurations?
What is the difference?

 

[Borek]

spdf are symbols of orbitals, it is not a symbol of the "configuration". I am not sure what the numbers listed are intended to mean - probably total number of electrons on the shell. No idea if it has any specific name.

Hard to explain details without lecturing on what the configuration really is. Read on and things should get clear at some point.

 

[James Pelezo]

Electron configurations are derived from Atomic Models... The Bohr (Concentric Ring) Model specifies electron configurations with respect to the number of electrons per 'major' energy levels... That is, for any given energy level, the maximum number of electrons a major energy level can hold is given by the expression 2n² => n=1 => 2(1)² = 2e^- max; n=2 => 2(2)² = 8e^- max; n=3 => 2(3)² = 18e^- max; etc... For any given element, electrons are added into the n = 1 first, then n = 2, n = 3; etc. Such gives the (2,8,8,2) configuration for element #20 (calcium) ... Adding electrons beyond At. No. 20 fills in the n = 3 energy level until 18 total electrons are placed then n = 4 in the 4th row is completed with 8 electrons, then n=5 and so on.

For the orbital electron configurations, the notations describe electron configurations for the Schrodinger Quantum Model. The filling scheme is defined by The Aufbau Principle which states 'In the building up process of the atom's electron configuration, electrons enter at the lowest available energy level'. Such follows, in general, the order-of-filling scheme known as the Aufbau Diagram. Example, [N]1s²2s²2p³ and so on... Whew! Borek's right, this can run into a day long lecture... Suggest searching history of atomic models... You should find some good treaties on the evolution of electron configurations.