Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct ground-state electron configuration for the Co^{3+} ion?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which ground-state atom has an electron configuration described by the following orbital diagram?1s: ↑↓2s: ↑↓2p: ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓
A
Fluorine (F)
B
Neon (Ne)
C
Oxygen (O)
D
Carbon (C)
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the given electron configuration from the orbital diagram. The diagram shows the 1s, 2s, and 2p orbitals fully filled with paired electrons: 1s (↑↓), 2s (↑↓), and 2p (↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓).
Step 2: Recall that each orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons with opposite spins. The 1s orbital holds 2 electrons, the 2s orbital holds 2 electrons, and the 2p subshell has 3 orbitals, each holding 2 electrons, for a total of 6 electrons in 2p.
Step 3: Calculate the total number of electrons by adding electrons in all orbitals: 2 (1s) + 2 (2s) + 6 (2p) = 10 electrons.
Step 4: Identify the element with 10 electrons in its neutral ground state. The atomic number corresponds to the number of electrons, so the element with 10 electrons is Neon (Ne).
Step 5: Confirm that the other options (Fluorine with 9 electrons, Oxygen with 8, Carbon with 6) do not match the fully filled 2p subshell shown in the diagram.
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