Multiple Choice
How many electrons can the n = 4 shell hold in an atom?
2
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which element is represented by the electron configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2?
A
Oxygen (O)
B
Nitrogen (N)
C
Boron (B)
D
Carbon (C)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the electron configuration notation shows the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals, where the superscript indicates the number of electrons in each subshell.
Count the total number of electrons by adding the superscripts: $1s^2$ means 2 electrons, $2s^2$ means 2 electrons, and $2p^2$ means 2 electrons, so total electrons = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6.
Recall that the atomic number of an element equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom, so the element with 6 electrons has an atomic number of 6.
Use the periodic table to identify the element with atomic number 6, which corresponds to Carbon (C).
Confirm that the given electron configuration matches Carbon's ground-state electron configuration, verifying the answer.
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