Multiple Choice
Which of the following represents the ground state electron configuration for the element tin (Sn)?
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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 beryllium (Be) atom?
A
1s^2 2s^1
B
1s^2 2s^2
C
1s^2 2s^1 2p^1
D
1s^2 2p^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the atomic number of beryllium (Be), which tells us the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Beryllium has an atomic number of 4, so it has 4 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 begins with 1s, then 2s, then 2p, and so on.
Step 3: Fill the electrons into the orbitals following the order and the Pauli exclusion principle (each orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons with opposite spins). For 4 electrons, fill 2 electrons in 1s orbital and then place the remaining 2 electrons in the 2s orbital.
Step 4: Write the electron configuration by indicating the orbitals and the number of electrons in each, using the notation: orbital^{number of electrons}. For beryllium, this results in 1s^2 2s^2.
Step 5: Compare the given options with the correct configuration. The correct electron configuration for neutral beryllium is 1s^2 2s^2, as it properly accounts for all 4 electrons in the lowest energy orbitals.
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