Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes an electron?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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What is the electron configuration of chlorine (Cl)?
A
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴
B
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶
C
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³
D
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁵
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of electron configuration: Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. Each orbital can hold a specific number of electrons, and they fill in a specific order based on energy levels.
Identify the atomic number of chlorine: Chlorine (Cl) has an atomic number of 17, which means it has 17 electrons in its neutral state.
Apply the Aufbau principle: Electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to the highest. The order is 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and so on.
Distribute the electrons: Begin filling the orbitals with electrons: 1s² (2 electrons), 2s² (2 electrons), 2p⁶ (6 electrons), 3s² (2 electrons), and finally 3p⁵ (5 electrons) to account for all 17 electrons.
Verify the electron configuration: Ensure that the total number of electrons matches the atomic number of chlorine (17) and that the configuration follows the correct order: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁵.
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