Multiple Choice
Which of the following elements has an electron configuration of [Kr] 5s^2?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for zinc (Zn)?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^{10} 4p^2
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 4p^6
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10}
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^8
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of zinc (Zn), which is 30. This means zinc has 30 electrons to place in its electron configuration.
Recall the order of filling orbitals according to the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, and so on.
Fill the orbitals in order until you reach 30 electrons: start with 1s^2 (2 electrons), then 2s^2 (2 electrons), 2p^6 (6 electrons), 3s^2 (2 electrons), 3p^6 (6 electrons), 4s^2 (2 electrons), and finally 3d orbitals.
Since 4s fills before 3d, after filling 4s^2 (2 electrons), place the remaining electrons in the 3d orbitals. For zinc, 3d will have 10 electrons to complete the d-subshell.
Combine all these to write the full electron configuration for zinc as: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^{10}$.
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