Rewrite the electron configuration for sulfur (Example Problem 6.6) using the shorthand notation introduced above.
Strategy We found the electron configuration in Example Problem 6.6. Now we simply need to identify the core electrons and replace them with the symbol for the corresponding noble gas.
The full electron configuration of sulfur is 1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^4. The valence electrons occupy orbitals with n = 3, and the core electrons fill the n = 1 and n = 2 shells. Neon is the noble gas element whose electron configuration is 1s^22s^22p^6. So we can abbreviate the configuration for sulfur as [Ne]3s^23p^4.
Check Your Understanding Use the shorthand notation to write the electron configuration for gallium.