Final answer:
Writing electron configurations is essential for predicting atomic interactions and properties. It is guided by the Pauli exclusion principle, Aufbau principle, and Hund's rule, defining orbital filling based on energy levels, orbital occupancy, and electron spin directions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding electron configurations is crucial in chemistry, as it helps predict how atoms will interact, form bonds, and contribute to the chemical and physical properties of substances. The Pauli exclusion principle states that the two electrons occupying the same orbital must have opposite spin directions. This understanding is significant when assigning electron configurations, as it keeps you on the right path to determining how and where to place the electrons within orbitals according to their energy levels and spins.
The application of the Aufbau principle guides the filling of orbitals from lower to higher energy, and Hund's rule extends this logic by filling degenerate orbitals with electrons that have the same spin before pairing occurs.