Electron Configuration Calculator

Making sense of how electrons are arranged in atoms

When you first see an electron configuration written out, it can feel overwhelming. Letters, numbers, superscripts — it’s not always obvious what they’re trying to tell you.

This calculator is meant to remove that friction. You select an element, and it shows how its electrons are arranged without forcing you to work through the rules manually.

Why people usually need this

Electron configurations come up everywhere in chemistry — bonding, reactivity, periodic trends, and even simple exam questions.

Instead of memorizing configurations or second-guessing orbital filling rules, this tool gives you a reliable reference in one step.

Who this is most useful for

• Students learning atomic structure or periodic trends
• Anyone revising chemistry concepts before exams
• Teachers or tutors needing a quick visual check
• Curious learners exploring how elements differ internally

How the calculator works behind the scenes

Each element has a fixed atomic number, which tells us how many electrons it has in a neutral state. Those electrons are then placed into orbitals in a specific order.

The calculator follows that order and displays the final arrangement, along with the number of electrons in the outermost shell.

A simple example

Let’s say you select oxygen. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, meaning it has eight electrons.

The calculator shows how those electrons fill the lower-energy orbitals first and highlights that oxygen has six electrons in its outer shell.

Things to keep in mind

The results assume neutral atoms. If you’re dealing with ions, the electron count and configuration can change.

Also, while this tool shows the standard configuration, some transition elements can behave slightly differently in real chemical situations.

Use this as a clear starting point — especially for learning and comparison — and pair it with deeper study when precision really matters.