Complete Electron Configuration for Bromine (Br, Br- ion)
Bromine is the 35th element in the periodic table and its symbol is ‘Br’. In this article, I have discussed in detail how to easily write the complete electron configuration of bromine.
What is the electron configuration of bromine?
The total number of electrons in bromine is thirty-five. These electrons are arranged according to specific rules in different orbitals.
The arrangement of electrons in bromine in specific rules in different orbits and orbitals is called the electron configuration of bromine.
The electron configuration of bromine is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5, if the electron arrangement is through orbitals. Electron configuration can be done in two ways.
- Electron configuration through orbit (Bohr principle)
- Electron configuration through orbital (Aufbau principle)

Electron configuration through orbitals follows different principles. For example Aufbau principle, Hund’s principle, and Pauli’s exclusion principle.
Bromine atom electron configuration through orbit
Scientist Niels Bohr was the first to give an idea of the atom’s orbit. He provided a model of the atom in 1913. The complete idea of the orbit is given there.
The electrons of the atom revolve around the nucleus in a certain circular path. These circular paths are called orbit(shell). These orbits are expressed by n. [n = 1,2,3,4 . . . The serial number of the orbit]
K is the name of the first orbit, L is the second, M is the third, and N is the name of the fourth orbit. The electron holding capacity of each orbit is 2n2.
Shell Number (n) | Shell Name | Electrons Holding Capacity (2n2) |
1 | K | 2 |
2 | L | 8 |
3 | M | 18 |
4 | N | 32 |
For example,
- n = 1 for K orbit.
The maximum electron holding capacity in K orbit is 2n2 = 2 × 12 = 2. - For L orbit, n = 2.
The maximum electron holding capacity in L orbit is 2n2 = 2 × 22 = 8. - n=3 for M orbit.
The maximum electron holding capacity in M orbit is 2n2 = 2 × 32 = 18. - n=4 for N orbit.
The maximum electron holding capacity in N orbit is 2n2 = 2 × 42 = 32.
Therefore, the maximum electron holding capacity in the first shell is two, the second shell is eight and the 3rd shell can have a maximum of eighteen electrons.

The atomic number is the number of electrons in that element. The atomic number of bromine is 35. That is, the number of electrons in bromine is thirty-five.
Therefore, the bromine atom will have two electrons in the first shell, eight in the 2nd orbit, eighteen electrons in the 3rd shell, and the remaining seven electrons in the fourth shell.
Therefore, the order of the number of electrons in each shell of the bromine(Br) atom is 2, 8, 18, 7. Electrons can be arranged correctly through orbits from elements 1 to 18.
The electron configuration of an element with an atomic number greater than 18 cannot be properly determined according to the Bohr atomic model. The electron configuration of all the elements can be done through the orbital diagram.
Electron configuration of bromine through orbital
Atomic energy shells are subdivided into sub-energy levels. These sub-energy levels are also called orbital. The most probable region of electron rotation around the nucleus is called the orbital.
The sub-energy levels depend on the azimuthal quantum number. It is expressed by ‘l’. The value of ‘l’ is from 0 to (n – 1). The sub-energy levels are known as s, p, d, and f.
Orbit Number | Value of ‘l’ | Number of subshells | Number of orbital | Subshell name | Electrons holding capacity | Electron configuration |
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1s | 2 | 1s2 |
2 | 0 1 | 2 | 1 3 | 2s 2p | 2 6 | 2s2 2p6 |
3 | 0 1 2 | 3 | 1 3 5 | 3s 3p 3d | 2 6 10 | 3s2 3p6 3d10 |
4 | 0 1 2 3 | 4 | 1 3 5 7 | 4s 4p 4d 4f | 2 6 10 14 | 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 |
For example,
- If n = 1,
(n – 1) = (1–1) = 0
Therefore, the value of ‘l’ is 0. So, the sub-energy level is 1s. - If n = 2,
(n – 1) = (2–1) = 1.
Therefore, the value of ‘l’ is 0, 1. So, the sub-energy levels are 2s, and 2p. - If n = 3,
(n – 1) = (3–1) = 2.
Therefore, the value of ‘l’ is 0, 1, 2. So, the sub-energy levels are 3s, 3p, and 3d. - If n = 4,
(n – 1) = (4–1) = 3
Therefore, the value of ‘l’ is 0, 1, 2, 3. So, the sub-energy levels are 4s, 4p, 4d, and 4f. - If n = 5,
(n – 1) = (n – 5) = 4.
Therefore, l = 0,1,2,3,4. The number of sub-shells will be 5 but 4s, 4p, 4d, and 4f in these four subshells it is possible to arrange the electrons of all the elements of the periodic table.
Subshell name | Name source | Value of ‘l’ | Value of ‘m’ (0 to ± l) | Number of orbital (2l+1) | Electrons holding capacity 2(2l+1) |
s | Sharp | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
p | Principal | 1 | −1, 0, +1 | 3 | 6 |
d | Diffuse | 2 | −2, −1, 0, +1, +2 | 5 | 10 |
f | Fundamental | 3 | −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3 | 7 | 14 |
The orbital number of the s-subshell is one, three in the p-subshell, five in the d-subshell and seven in the f-subshell. Each orbital can have a maximum of two electrons.
The sub-energy level ‘s’ can hold a maximum of two electrons, ‘p’ can hold a maximum of six electrons, ‘d’ can hold a maximum of ten electrons, and ‘f’ can hold a maximum of fourteen electrons.

Aufbau is a German word, which means building up. The main proponents of this principle are scientists Niels Bohr and Pauli. The Aufbau method is to do electron configuration through the sub-energy level.
The Aufbau principle is that the electrons present in the atom will first complete the lowest energy orbital and then gradually continue to complete the higher energy orbital.
The energy of an orbital is calculated from the value of the principal quantum number ‘n’ and the azimuthal quantum number ‘l’.
The orbital for which the value of (n + l) is lower is the low energy orbital and the electron will enter that orbital first.
Orbital | Orbit (n) | Azimuthal quantum number (l) | Orbital energy (n + l) |
3d | 3 | 2 | 5 |
4s | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Here, the energy of 4s orbital is less than that of 3d. So, the electron will enter the 4s orbital first and enter the 3d orbital when the 4s orbital is full.
The method of entering electrons into orbitals through the Aufbau principle is 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p 5s 4d 5p 6s 4f 5d 6p 7s 5f 6d.
The first two electrons of bromine enter the 1s orbital. The s-orbital can have a maximum of two electrons. Therefore, the next two electrons enter the 2s orbital.
The p-orbital can have a maximum of six electrons. So, the next six electrons enter the 2p orbital. The second orbit is now full. So, the remaining electrons will enter the third orbit.
Then two electrons will enter the 3s orbital and the next six electrons will be in the 3p orbital of the third orbit. The 3p orbital is now full. So, the next two electrons will enter the 4s orbital and ten electrons will enter the 3d orbital.
The 3d orbital is now full. So, the remaining five electrons enter the 4p orbital. Therefore, the bromine complete electron configuration will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p5.

Note: The abbreviated electron configuration of bromine is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5. When writing an electron configuration, you have to write serially.
Electron configuration of bromine in the excited state
Atoms can jump from one orbital to another orbital in an excited state. This is called quantum jump. The ground state electron configuration of bromine is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p5.
In the bromine ground-state electron configuration, the last five electrons of the 4p orbital are located in the 4px(2), 4py(2) and 4pz orbitals. The p-subshell has three orbitals.
The orbitals are px, py, and pz and each orbital can have a maximum of two electrons. Then the correct electron configuration of bromine in the ground state will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4px2 4py2 4pz1.
This electron configuration shows that the last shell of a bromine atom has an unpaired electron. So in this case, the valency of bromine is 1.

When the bromine atom is excited, then the bromine atom absorbs energy. As a result, an electron in the 4py orbital jumps to the 4dxy orbital.
We already know that the d-subshell has five orbitals. The orbitals are dxy, dyz, dzx, dx2-y2 and dz2 and each orbital can have a maximum of two electrons.
Therefore, the electron configuration of bromine(Br*) in an excited state will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4px2 4py1 4pz1 4dxy1.
The valency of the element is determined by electron configuration in the excited state. Here, bromine has three unpaired electrons. So in this case, the valency of bromine is 3.
Bromide ion(Br–) electron configuration
The electron configuration of bromine shows that the last shell of bromine has seven electrons. Therefore, the valence electrons of bromine are seven.
The elements that have 5, 6, or 7 electrons in the last shell receive the electrons in the last shell during bond formation.

The elements that receive electrons and form bonds are called anions. During the formation of a bond, the last shell of bromine receives an electron and turns into a bromide ion(Br–). That is, bromine is an anion element.
Br + e– → Br–
The electron configuration of bromide ion(Br–) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6. The electron configuration of bromide ion(Br–) shows that the bromide ion acquired the electron configuration of krypton.
Bromine atom exhibit -1, +1, +3, +5 oxidation states. The oxidation state of the element changes depending on the bond formation.
FAQs
How do you write the complete electron configuration for bromine?
Ans: The full electron configuration for bromine is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p5.
What is the valency of bromine?
Ans: The valency of bromine is 1, 3, and 5.
What is the electron configuration of br−?
Ans: The electron configuration of bromide ion(Br–) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6.
What is the unabbreviated electron configuration of bromine?
Ans: The unabbreviated electron configuration of bromine is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5.
How many orbitals does bromine have?
Ans: 18 orbitals. The orbital number of the s-subshell is one, three in the p-subshell, five in the d-subshell and seven in the f-subshell. Each orbital can have a maximum of two electrons.
What is the valence electron configuration for the bromine atom?
Ans: The valence electron configuration for the bromine atom [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5. The order of the number of electrons in each shell of the bromine atom is 2, 8, 18, 7.
How many electrons are in the 4p orbital of br?
Ans: In the bromine atom 3d orbital has a total of five electrons.
What is the complete ground state electron configuration for the bromine atom?
Ans: The complete ground state electron configuration for the bromine atom is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p5.
What is the electron configuration of br if it loses three electrons?
Ans: If bromine loses three electrons then its electron configuration will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p3.
How many energy levels does bromine have?
Ans: Bromine has a total of four energy levels. The order of the number of electrons in each energy level of the bromine atom is 2, 8, 18, 7.
How many unpaired electrons does bromine have?
Ans: One electron. Because electron configuration of the bromine atom is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5. Here, the 3d orbital is full of ten electrons and the 4s orbital full of two electrons. Only 4p orbital has one unpaired electron.
How many electrons are in the n = 2 orbit of bromine?
Ans: 8 electrons. The formula of electron holding capacity of each orbit is 2n2. The maximum electron holding capacity in the 2nd orbit of bromine is 2n2 = 2 × 22 = 8.
What is the number of outer shell electrons in bromine?
Ans: Bromine has five electrons in its outer shell.
How many sublevels does bromine have?
Ans: Bromine has a total of eight subshells and four shells. The sub shells are 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p.
How many electrons surround the nucleus of an atom of bromine?
Ans: 35 electrons. Electrons are the permanent core particles of an atom. It resides in a specific orbit of the atom and revolves around the nucleus. An atom of bromine has a total of 35 electrons surrounding its nucleus.
How many electrons occupy the 4p sublevel of a neutral atom of bromine?
Ans: The 4p subshell of a neutral bromine atom occupies a total of five electrons.