Multiple Choice
Which of the following represents the correct electron configuration for helium?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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What is the electron configuration of tellurium (Te)?
A
[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p4
B
[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p6
C
[Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p4
D
[Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of tellurium (Te), which is 52. This tells us the total number of electrons to place in the electron configuration.
Recall the order of filling electron orbitals based on the Aufbau principle, which generally follows the sequence: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, and so on.
Determine the noble gas core that comes before tellurium to simplify the configuration. The noble gas preceding Te is krypton (Kr), which accounts for the first 36 electrons.
After the krypton core, add the electrons in the orbitals beyond Kr: fill the 5s orbital with 2 electrons, then the 4d orbital with 10 electrons, and finally place the remaining electrons in the 5p orbital.
Sum the electrons after the krypton core to ensure the total reaches 52, confirming the configuration is [Kr] 5s\^2 4d\^10 5p\^4.
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