Multiple Choice
Which of the following species has the electron configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6?
3
views
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
Struggling with General Chemistry?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Which of the following represents 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^10 4p^6
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^2
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^8 4p^6
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of selenium (Se), which is 34. This means selenium has 34 electrons to be placed in orbitals according to the Aufbau principle.
Recall the order of filling orbitals based on increasing energy: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, and so on.
Distribute the 34 electrons into these orbitals following the Pauli exclusion principle and Hund's rule, filling lower energy orbitals completely before moving to higher ones.
Write the electron configuration by listing each filled orbital with its superscript indicating the number of electrons, ensuring the total adds up to 34.
Compare the written configuration with the given options to identify which one correctly represents selenium's electron configuration.
Related Videos
Related Practice
The Electron Configuration practice set
Problem sets built by lead tutorsExpert video explanations