The detailed distribution of electrons within the energy levels and sublevels of a sodium atom is expressed using its complete electron configuration. This representation explicitly shows the occupancy of each atomic orbital. For sodium, which has an atomic number of 11, the complete electron configuration is 1s22s22p63s1. This notation specifies that the 1s, 2s, and 2p orbitals are fully occupied, containing two, two, and six electrons, respectively, while the 3s orbital contains one electron.
Knowledge of a complete electron configuration is fundamental to understanding the chemical behavior of an element. It allows prediction of an element’s reactivity, its tendency to form specific types of chemical bonds, and its position within the periodic table. By explicitly showing all occupied orbitals, it provides a comprehensive view of the electron arrangement that governs interactions with other atoms. Historically, determining such configurations has been pivotal in the development of quantum mechanics and its application to atomic structure.
