The total number of electrons in an atom of sulfur = 2 + 8 + 6 = 16 The common shorthand notation is to refer to the noble gas core, rather than write out the entire configuration.For example, the configuration of magnesium could be written [Ne]3s 2, rather … Nevertheless, check the complete configuration and other interesting facts about Potassium that most people don't know. Electron configuration was first conceived under the Bohr model of the atom, and it is still common to speak of shells and subshells despite the advances in understanding of the quantum-mechanical nature of electrons.. An electron shell is the set of allowed states that share the same principal quantum number, n (the number before the letter in the orbital label), that electrons may occupy. The M shell contains 3s, 3p, and 3d, and can carry 18 electrons. Potassium atoms have 19 electrons and the shell structure is 2.8.8.1. The N shell containing 4s, 4d, 4p and 4f, can carry 32 electrons. Such an arrangement helps explain the periodicity and periodic trends observed across the elements of the periodic table. Under the orbital approximation, we let each electron occupy an orbital, which can be solved by a single wavefunction. That's why Sodium, Na is 2.8.1 and Magnesium, Mg is 2.8.2 Why isn't Potassium, K 2.8.9 but 2.8.8.1(a total of 4 shells… Normally you should after this fill the subshell 3d but due to electrostatic interactions the subshell 4s is filled before the subshell 3d . He was the first person to suggest the periodicity in the properties of the elements. Electronic configuration [Ar] 4s1 Losing one electron gives it the stable configuration of argon a noble gas. An atom's nth … Therefore the Potassium electron configuration will be 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 4s 1. In the case of Potassium the abbreviated electron configuration is [Ar] 4s1. For example, the s sublevel can only hold two electrons, so the 1s is filled at helium (1s 2).The p sublevel can hold six electrons, the d sublevel can hold 10 electrons, and the f sublevel can hold 14 electrons. Diagram showing the nuclear composition and electron configuration of an atom of potassium-39 (atomic number: 19), the most common isotope of this element. The number of electrons in each shell in atomic structure is N e =2n 2 So, the 3rd shell can have a maximum number of electrons of 18. Neils Bohr gave the planetary model of an atom. The total electron configuration for potassium is. In order to write the Potassium electron configuration, we first need to know the number of electrons for the K atom (there are 19 electrons). I would like to know why potassium is not 2.8.9. K = #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^1# This simplifies to a noble gas notation of . These noble gases have completely filled outermost shells and can be prefixed to the outermost shell of the element whose electronic configuration must be noted. 19 electrons (green) bind to the nucleus, with a single, relatively unstable electron in the outer shell (ring). Illustration of the atomic structure and electron configuration of the element potassium.