Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes how electrons fill orbitals in the periodic table?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following shows the correct electron configuration for silicon (Si)?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^2
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^1
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the atomic number of silicon (Si), which is 14. This means silicon has 14 electrons to be arranged in its electron configuration.
Step 2: Recall the order in which electron orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and so on.
Step 3: Fill the orbitals with electrons following the maximum capacity of each orbital: 1s can hold 2 electrons, 2s can hold 2, 2p can hold 6, 3s can hold 2, and 3p can hold 6.
Step 4: Distribute the 14 electrons of silicon into these orbitals in order: fill 1s with 2 electrons, 2s with 2 electrons, 2p with 6 electrons, 3s with 2 electrons, and place the remaining electrons in 3p orbitals.
Step 5: Determine the number of electrons in the 3p orbital by subtracting the electrons already placed in lower orbitals from 14, which gives the correct electron configuration for silicon as $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^2$.
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