To draw the electronic structure of a phosphorus atom, start by noting that phosphorus has 15 electrons. Place these electrons in energy levels: the first shell can hold 2 electrons, the second can hold 8, and the third can hold a maximum of 18. Thus, the diagram would show 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second shell, and 5 in the third shell, represented as concentric circles around the nucleus, with dots or circles indicating the electrons in each shell. Label the shells as K (1st), L (2nd), and M (3rd) for clarity.
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