Multiple Choice
How many electrons can occupy the second energy level (n = 2) of an atom?
1
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for an oxygen atom?
A
1s2 2s2 2p1
B
1s2 2s2 2p4
C
1s2 2s2 2p3
D
1s2 2s2 2p6
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the atomic number of oxygen, which tells you the total number of electrons in a neutral oxygen atom. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, so it has 8 electrons.
Step 2: Recall the order in which electron orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle: electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to higher ones. The order for the first 8 electrons is 1s, 2s, then 2p.
Step 3: Fill the 1s orbital first, which can hold up to 2 electrons, so write 1s\^2.
Step 4: Next, fill the 2s orbital, which also holds up to 2 electrons, so write 2s\^2.
Step 5: Finally, place the remaining electrons in the 2p orbitals. Since 1s and 2s orbitals hold 4 electrons total, the remaining 4 electrons go into 2p, making it 2p\^4.
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