The orbital notation for aluminum (Al), which has an atomic number of 13, can be written as:
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹
This notation breaks down the electron configuration of aluminum into its respective orbitals:
- 1s²: The first energy level (n=1) has 2 electrons in the s orbital.
- 2s²: The second energy level (n=2) has 2 electrons in the s orbital.
- 2p⁶: The second energy level also has 6 electrons in the p orbitals.
- 3s²: The third energy level (n=3) has 2 electrons in the s orbital.
- 3p¹: The third energy level has 1 electron in the p orbital.
In total, this adds up to 13 electrons, which is characteristic of aluminum. This orbital notation visually represents how electrons occupy different energy levels and subshells in an atom.