Berkelium Electron Configuration:7 Facts You Should Know!

The atomic number of Berkelium is 97, and the actinoid series element is in the periodic Table. Let us have a look at the facts about the Berkelium electron configuration.

The electron configuration of Berkelium is [Rn] 5f9 7s2. Berkelium is f block (inner transition) element and transuranic in Periodic Table. The symbol of the element is “Bk.” Electrons per shell distribution are in the order of 2,8,18,32,27,8,2. Bk is a silvery white and soft metal in the actinoid series.

This article will discuss some important facts about berkelium electron configuration, configuration notation, unabbreviated configuration, configuration diagrams, ground state and excited state electron configurations.

How to write berkelium electron configuration

Electronic configuration of Bk is [Rn]5f9 7s2. Three rules must be followed using writing the electronic configuration of an element.

  • The general electronic configuration of ” f “block element is (n-2) f1-14 (n-1) d0-1 ns2
  • Order of electrons filling in the orbit as per the rule determined by Aufbau principle, Pauli’s-Exclusion principle and Hund’s rule.
  • Electrons are distributed in orbits by increasing the order of energy using the Aufbau principle.
  • In orbit, the first electron will fill in the clockwise direction, and the next will be in the anti-clockwise direction with an opposite spin using Hund’s rule.

Berkelium electron configuration diagram

Berkelium electron configuration is [Rn] 5f9 7s2. The diagram is drawn as per the equation 2n2 which explains electron holding capacity where the distribution of electrons is as follows listed below.

  • n=1, K Shell there for electrons accommodate k shell is 2×12=2
  • n=2, L shell there for electrons accommodate l shell is 2×22=8
  • n=3, M shell there for electrons accommodate m shell is 2×32=18
  • n=4, N shell there for electrons accommodate n shell is 2×42=32
electron configuration using aufbau em 1 1
Berkelium electron configuration diagram using Aufbau principle

Berkelium electron configuration notation

Berkelium electron configuration notation is [Rn] 5f9 7s2

Berkelium unabbreviated electron configuration

Bk unabbreviated electron configuration is

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 5f9 6s2 6p6 7s2

Ground state berkelium electron configuration

The ground state berkelium electron configuration is [Rn] 5f9 7s2

Excited state of berkelium electron configuration

Excited state electron configuration of Bk is [Rn]5f10 7s1 where electrons shift into a higher energy level by requiring more energy.

Ground state berkelium orbital diagram

The electronic configuration of the Bk is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 5f9 6s2 6p6 7s2.The ground state orbital diagram of the Berkelium is showing the filling of electrons around the nucleus as follows

  • Ground state electron configuration can be written by principal quantum number n
  • Principle quantum number is a positive integer, representing the energy of the orbital.
  • Shells around the nucleus as K, L, M and N.
  • The orbitals S, P, D, and F occupied maximum number of electrons.
  • Thus the Bk electron configuration in concert of shells is 2,8,18,32,26,9,2
Screenshot 2022 12 09 231431berkelium 23 1
Ground state berkelium orbital diagram

Conclusion

Berkelium is the actinoid series and a synthetic element in the periodic Table. Berkelium appears as metallic and has a traditional shine. The most stable isotope of Bk is Berkelium-247.

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