What is geometric electronic distribution?

Geometric electronic distribution is a different way of representing a fundamental electronic distribution of an atom, that is, that commonly performed with the Linus Pauling energy diagram.

Linus Pauling diagram in which the arrows indicate the order of energy

Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize that the construction of the geometric electronic distribution depends on the realization of the fundamental distribution. The differences between them are:

• The geometric distribution is always represented on a single line;

• The geometric distribution does not follow the order (blue arrows) of energy, as performed by the Linus Pauling diagram;

• The fundamental distribution can be represented in a single line, however, it must always follow the energy order of the diagram.

To understand how a geometric electronic distribution, let's use the element zinc (atomic number 30) as an example from the following steps:

• 1st Step: distribute the thirty electrons referring to the atomic number.

Zinc fundamental electronic distribution

• 2nd Step: Make the geometric distribution in a line representing each of the lines (1, 2, 3 and 4) of the diagram:

Lines used in fundamental distribution of zinc

The four lines of the fundamental distribution of zinc are represented in the geometric distribution as follows:

Zinc geometric distribution: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²

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Features of geometric electronic distribution

• Determine the outermost sublevel of the atom;

• Determine the location of electron withdrawal in an atom with a tendency to form cation;

• Determine the location of electron withdrawal in an atom with a tendency to form anion.

Examples of geometric electronic distributions

1st Example: Uranium element (Z=92)

Electronic distribution of the element uranium

The fundamental electronic distribution of uranium has a total of seven lines, as in the following description:

Lines used in the fundamental distribution of uranium

When each of the seven lines is represented in a single one, the electronic geometric distribution of uranium is presented as follows:

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 5f⁴ 6s² 6p⁶

2nd Example: Cesium element (Z = 55)

Electronic distribution of the element cesium

The fundamental electronic distribution of cesium has a total of seven lines, as in the following description:

Lines used in the fundamental distribution of cesium

When each of the six lines is represented in a single one, the electronic geometric distribution of cesium is presented as follows:

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s¹

By Me. Diogo Lopes Dias

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DAYS, Diogo Lopes. "What is geometric electronic distribution?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/quimica/o-que-e-distribuicao-eletronica-geometrica.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.