Atom Diagrams Showing Electron Shell Configurations of the Elements

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Updated November 05, 2019

It's easier to understand electron configuration and valence if you can actually see the electrons surrounding atoms. For that, we have electron shell diagrams.

Here are electron shell atom diagrams for the elements, ordered by increasing atomic number.

For each electron shell atom diagram, the element symbol is listed in the nucleus. The electron shells are shown, moving outward from the nucleus. The final ring or shell of electrons contains the typical number of valence electrons for an atom of that element. The element atomic number and name are listed in the upper left. The upper right side shows the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Remember, a neutral atom contains the same number of protons and electrons.

The isotope is defined by the number of neutrons in an atom, which might be equal to the number of protons—or not.

An ion of an atom is one in which the number of protons and electrons is not the same. If there are more protons than electrons, an atomic ion has a positive charge and is called a cation. If there are more electrons than protons, the ion has a negative charge and is called an anion.

Elements are shown from atomic number 1 (hydrogen) up to 94 (plutonium). However, it's easy to determine the configuration of electrons for heavier elements by making a chart.

Hydrogen

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Helium

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Lithium

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Lithium is the first element in which an additional electron shell is added. Remember, the valence electrons are found in the outermost shell. The filling of the electron shells depends on their orbital. The first orbital (an s orbital) can contain only two electrons.

Beryllium

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Boron

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Carbon

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Nitrogen

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Oxygen

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Fluorine

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Neon

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Sodium

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Magnesium

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Aluminium

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Silicon

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Phosphorus

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Sulfur

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Chlorine

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Argon

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Potassium

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Calcium

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Scandium

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Titanium

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Vanadium

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Chromium

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Manganese

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Iron

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Cobalt

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Nickel

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Copper

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Zinc

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Gallium

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Germanium

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Arsenic

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Selenium

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Bromine

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Krypton

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Rubidium

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Strontium

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Yttrium

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Zirconium

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Niobium

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Molybdenum

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Technetium

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Ruthenium

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Rhodium

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Palladium

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Silver

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Cadmium

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Indium

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Tin

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Antimony

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Tellurium

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Iodine

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Xenon

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Caesium

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Barium

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Lanthanum

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Cerium

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Praseodymium

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Neodymium

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Promethium

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Samarium

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Europium

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Gadolinium

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Terbium

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Dysprosium

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Holmium

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Erbium

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Thulium

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Ytterbium

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Lutetium

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Hafnium

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Tantalum

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Tungsten

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Rhenium

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Osmium

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Iridium

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Platinum

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Gold

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Mercury

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Thallium

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Lead

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Bismuth

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Polonium

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Astatine

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Radon

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Francium

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Radium

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Actinium

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Thorium

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Protactinium

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Uranium

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Neptunium

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Plutonium

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