Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes electron energy levels and their location in an atom?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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What is the electron configuration of gallium (Ga)?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^1
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^6
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^1
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^1
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of gallium (Ga), which is 31. This tells us that gallium has 31 electrons to place in its electron configuration.
Recall the order in which electron orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, and so on.
Fill the orbitals with electrons following the order and the maximum number of electrons each orbital can hold: s orbitals hold 2, p orbitals hold 6, and d orbitals hold 10 electrons.
Write the electron configuration by adding electrons to each orbital until you reach 31 electrons: start with 1s^2, then 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6, 4s^2, 3d^{10}, and finally place the remaining electron in 4p^1.
Confirm that the total number of electrons adds up to 31 and that the configuration follows the correct order and filling rules, resulting in $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10} 4p^1$.
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