Electron Configuration of Potassium (K)
Potassium (K, Z = 19) has the electron configuration [Ar] 4s^1, filling 4 shells with 2, 8, 8, 1 electrons.
This is the fast lane: one page, one fact, zero digressions. Read the quick answer, check the table, and if your exam needs the full derivation, the sections below walk through it step by step — in Bangla and English, like every page here. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Potassium page is one click away.
Potassium: every subshell, one by one
The table below unpacks [Ar] 4s^1 line by line, so you can watch Potassium's 19 electrons take their seats in order of increasing energy.
| Subshell | Electrons | Total so far |
|---|---|---|
| [Ar] | 0 | 18 |
| 4s | 1 | 19 |
Electrons per shell (K, L, M…)
Grouped by principal quantum number instead of subshell, Potassium carries 2 in shell 1, 8 in shell 2, 8 in shell 3, 1 in shell 4. The outermost shell holds 1 electron — the ones that do all the bonding.
How to derive it yourself
Follow the aufbau order (1s → 2s → 2p → 3s → 3p → 4s → 3d → …), pouring 19 electrons into orbitals of capacity 2 (s), 6 (p), 10 (d) and 14 (f) until none remain. Write the filled inner shells as the nearest noble-gas core — for Potassium that gives [Ar] 4s^1.
Students also ask
How many electron shells does Potassium have?
Potassium is in period 4, so its electrons occupy 4 shells, holding 2, 8, 8, 1 electrons respectively.
How many valence electrons does Potassium have?
Its outermost shell holds 1 electron, so Potassium has 1 valence electron that take part in bonding.
What is the noble-gas shorthand for Potassium?
The shorthand form is exactly [Ar] 4s^1.