Multiple Choice
Which one of the following is the correct orbital diagram for a nitrogen atom (atomic number 7)?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following electron configurations best represents how electrons are arranged in the energy levels of a carbon atom?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^4
B
1s^2 2s^1 2p^3
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the atomic number of carbon, which tells you the total number of electrons in a neutral carbon atom. Carbon has an atomic number of 6, so it has 6 electrons.
Step 2: Recall the order in which electrons fill atomic orbitals based on the Aufbau principle: electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to higher ones. The order for the first few orbitals is 1s, 2s, then 2p.
Step 3: Fill the electrons into the orbitals following the Pauli exclusion principle and Hund's rule. The 1s orbital can hold 2 electrons, the 2s orbital can hold 2 electrons, and the 2p orbitals can hold up to 6 electrons, but only as many as needed to reach the total of 6 electrons.
Step 4: Write the electron configuration by placing the electrons in the orbitals accordingly: 2 electrons in 1s, 2 electrons in 2s, and the remaining 2 electrons in 2p orbitals.
Step 5: Compare the given options with the correct electron configuration you derived, which should be $1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{2}$ for carbon.
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