Electron configuration of beryllium

Electronic configuration of beryllium is 1s²,2s².

Explanation:

Due to its atomic number of 4, beryllium possesses four electrons. Beryllium has electronic configuration an of 1s² 2s². Let’s dissect its electronic structure to comprehend the orbitals, sub orbitals, and shells that are involved.

Detail of shell

The K shell and the L shell are the two electron shells that exist in beryllium.

K shell:

which is the innermost shell, has a maximum capacity of 2 electrons. In beryllium, there are two electrons in the K shell.

L Shell:

The second shell, the L shell, has a maximum capacity of 8 electrons. The L shell in beryllium only has two electrons, hence it is not entirely filled.

Detail of sub-shell

The 1s subshell and the 2s subshell are both present in beryllium.

1s Subshell:

The K shell’s 1s subshell is present. It can hold up to two electrons at once. The 1s subshell of beryllium is entirely filled with two electrons.

2s Subshell:

The L shell is made up of the 2s subshell. Additionally, it can only hold up to two electrons. The 2s subshell of beryllium is entirely filled with 2 electrons.

Detail of orbital

Beryllium contains two orbitals in total, one in the 1s subshell and the other in the 2s subshell.

1s orbital

The 1s orbital, the solitary orbital found in the 1s subshell, is spherical in shape. It can hold up to two electrons at once. The 1s orbital in beryllium is completely filled with two electrons.

2s orbital

The sole orbital found in the 2s subshell is the 2s orbital, which is also spherical. Additionally, it can only hold up to two electrons. The 2s orbital in beryllium is entirely filled with two electrons.

Table for electronic configuration of beryllium

Element	Beryllium (Be)
Subshell(s)	1s, 2s
Shell(s)	K, L
Orbital(s)	1s (1s), 2s (2s)
Electronic Configuration	1s² 2s²
Atomic Number	4

Electron configuration of beryllium
By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 3, 2024