Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for a neutral copper (Cu) atom?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following represents the correct electron configuration for a neutral neon (Ne) atom?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^4
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^5
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^3
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the atomic number of neon (Ne), which tells us the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Neon has an atomic number of 10, so it has 10 electrons.
Step 2: Recall the order in which electron orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle: electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to higher ones. The order for the first 10 electrons is 1s, 2s, then 2p.
Step 3: Fill the 1s orbital first, which can hold up to 2 electrons, so write $1s^{2}$.
Step 4: Next, fill the 2s orbital, which also holds up to 2 electrons, so write $2s^{2}$.
Step 5: Finally, place the remaining electrons in the 2p orbital. Since 1s and 2s orbitals hold 4 electrons total, the remaining 6 electrons go into 2p, making it $2p^{6}$. Thus, the full electron configuration is $1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6}$.
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