Electronic structure describes the quantum states and spatial distribution of a system's electrons, including their energies, occupancies and correlations. It determines much of the chemical bonds, optical response and reactivity of atoms, molecules and solids.
An electron configuration is one compact approximate description, but it is not the full many-electron state. In molecular calculations, molecular orbitals and electron density reveal where charge is distributed; a many-electron wave function also encodes correlations. In a crystal, energy bands express how allowed electronic energies depend on wavevector. Approximations such as Hartree-Fock theory and density functional theory address different representations of the same underlying quantum problem.
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Electronic structure refers to the arrangement and behavior of electrons in an atom or molecule. It encompasses the distribution of electrons among various energy levels, subshells, and orbitals, as well as their interactions with one another. The electronic structure is fundamental to understanding the chemical properties and reactivity of elements and compounds.