Condensed electron configuration is an efficient method for representing the electron arrangements of elements and ions. This approach begins with the last noble gas preceding the element in question, allowing for a simplified notation that highlights only the valence electrons beyond the noble gas core.
To construct a condensed electron configuration, one must first identify the element and locate the nearest noble gas on the periodic table. The periodic table is organized into blocks: the s block starts with 1s, followed by the p block, d block, and f block. This organization is crucial for determining the order in which electrons fill the atomic orbitals according to the Aufbau principle.
For most scenarios, unless specifically instructed to provide the full ground state electron configuration, the condensed method is preferred due to its speed and simplicity. This method streamlines the process of writing electron configurations, making it the primary approach in many educational contexts.