Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the arrangement of electrons in an atom of fluorine (F)?
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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 antimony (Sb)?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^1
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^5
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^3
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^6
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of antimony (Sb), which is 51. This means Sb has 51 electrons to be placed in orbitals according to the Aufbau principle.
Recall the order of orbital filling based on increasing energy levels: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, and so on.
Fill the orbitals with electrons following the order, making sure to respect the maximum number of electrons per orbital type: s (2 electrons), p (6 electrons), d (10 electrons).
After filling up to 4d^{10}, place the remaining electrons in the 5p orbitals. Since Sb has 51 electrons, calculate how many electrons go into the 5p subshell by subtracting the electrons accounted for in all previous orbitals from 51.
Write the full electron configuration by combining all filled orbitals with their respective electron counts, ensuring the total adds up to 51 electrons.
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