Multiple Choice
According to the electron configuration, which of the following elements has a completely filled 3p subshell?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following is the correct abbreviated electron configuration for cesium (Cs)?
A
[Kr] 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^6 6s^1
B
[Xe] 6s^1
C
[Xe] 5s^2 5p^6 6s^1
D
[Xe] 6s^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of cesium (Cs), which is 55. This tells us the total number of electrons to place in the electron configuration.
Recall that the abbreviated electron configuration uses the noble gas preceding cesium to represent the core electrons. The noble gas before Cs is xenon (Xe), which has 54 electrons.
Write the electron configuration for xenon as the core: $[\text{Xe}]$ represents the configuration up to 54 electrons.
Add the remaining electron(s) after xenon to reach the total of 55 electrons. Since Cs has one more electron than Xe, place this electron in the next available orbital, which is the 6s orbital.
Combine the core configuration with the valence electron(s) to write the abbreviated electron configuration for Cs as $[\text{Xe}] 6s^1$.
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