Phosphorous electron configuration:(Explained for Beginners)

The electronic configuration of Phosphorous is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p³. 

Group 15 elements are also known as pnictogens. Phosphorous is found on the earth’s crust. It is known that elemental phosphorous occurs mostly in two forms, white and red phosphorous. However, phosphorous is highly reactive, due to this it never found as a free element on earth.

In this article we will learn about the electronic configuration, ground state and excited state electronic configuration of phosphorous. Let’s see the concepts below.  

How to write Phosphorous electron configuration

The “P” atom consists of 15 electrons.

• By following the Aufbau’s principle, the electrons will be filled in order of their increasing energies i.e. the lowest energy orbitals are filled first.
• Then Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity will be followed and pairing of electrons will start in opposite direction as per Pauli’s exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons can have all the four quantum numbers alike.
• The electronic configuration of Phosphorous is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p³. 

Phosphorous electron configuration diagram

The electronic configuration of P atom is expressed in the form of the diagram as given below.

• 1s orbital having minimum energy will be filled first, with a maximum capacity of two electrons.
• After 1s orbital, the 2s orbital will be filled with a maximum capacity of two electrons.
• After 2s orbital, the 2p orbital will be filled with a maximum capacity of six electrons.
• After 2p orbital, the 3s orbital will be filled with a maximum capacity of two electrons.
• After 3s orbital, the 3p orbital will be filled with three electrons only.

Phosphorous electron configuration notation

The Phosphorous electronic configuration notation is depicted as follows – [Ne] 3s²3p³

Phosphorous unabbreviated electron configuration

The unabbreviated electronic configuration for phosphorous is –

1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p³

Ground state Phosphorous electron configuration

Ground state electron configuration of phosphorous is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p³.

Excited state of Phosphorous electron configuration

The excited state phosphorous electronic configuration is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s¹3p³3d¹.  

Ground state Phosphorous orbital diagram

The ground state orbital diagram of the phosphorous shows the filling of electrons in the shells around the phosphorous nucleus. The orbital diagram of phosphorous is-

Phosphorous3^– electron configuration

Phosphorous3^– (P^3-) is also known as phosphide ion, whose electronic configuration will be 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶. Here, 3 more electrons were added to the phosphorous atom.

Phosphorous condensed electron configuration

Phosphorous condensed electron configuration is

• 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p³.
• [Ne]3s²3p³.

Phosphorous pentachloride electron configuration

The valence bond electronic configuration of phosphorous pentachloride is as follows: 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d².

Silicon Phosphorous electron configuration

The silicon phosphorous electron configuration is as follows:

• The electronic configuration of Silicon (Si): 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p²  
• The electronic configuration of Phosphorous (P): 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p³

Conclusion

The arrangement of electrons in different shells/different energy levels around the nucleus is known as the electronic structure or electronic configuration. Here, phosphorous having 15 electrons, and by following the Aufbau’s principle, Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity and Pauli’s exclusion principle, these 15 electrons were filled in various energy levels.

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