Multiple Choice
Which of the following represents the correct electron configuration for a neutral atom of magnesium?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following represents the correct ground-state electron configuration for the Te^{2-} ion?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^2
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^6
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6 5s^2 4d^{10} 5p^4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of the neutral element Te (tellurium), which is 52. This means a neutral Te atom has 52 electrons.
Since the ion is Te^{2-}, it has gained 2 extra electrons, so the total number of electrons is 52 + 2 = 54 electrons.
Write the electron configuration for 54 electrons by filling orbitals in order of increasing energy using the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, and 5p orbitals.
Make sure to fill the 5p orbital with 6 electrons (since 5p can hold up to 6 electrons) to account for the extra 2 electrons added to the neutral Te configuration (which has 5p^4).
Confirm that the final electron configuration matches the total of 54 electrons and follows the correct order and maximum electron capacities for each subshell.
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