Multiple Choice
How many electrons are present in the 4p orbitals of a selenium (Se) atom in its ground state?
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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 selenium (Se)?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^4
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^8 4p^6
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the atomic number of selenium (Se), which tells you the total number of electrons to place in the electron configuration. Selenium has an atomic number of 34, so it has 34 electrons.
Step 2: Recall the order in which electron orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle. The filling order is: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, and so on.
Step 3: Begin filling the orbitals with electrons, following the order and the maximum number of electrons each subshell can hold: s (2 electrons), p (6 electrons), d (10 electrons). Continue until all 34 electrons are assigned.
Step 4: Write the electron configuration by listing each subshell with its corresponding number of electrons, ensuring the total adds up to 34. For selenium, after filling up to 3p, fill 4s, then 3d, and finally place the remaining electrons in 4p.
Step 5: Compare your constructed electron configuration with the given options to identify which one correctly represents selenium's electron configuration.
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