Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for a neutral carbon (C) atom?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following is the correct ground-state electron configuration for gallium (Ga; Z = 31)?
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 3d^{10} 4s^2 4p^1
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 4p^3
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^8 4s^2 4p^3
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number (Z) of gallium, which is 31. This means gallium has 31 electrons to place in its electron configuration.
Recall the order of filling orbitals according to the Aufbau principle, which is: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, and so on.
Start filling the orbitals with electrons following this order, making sure to respect the maximum number of electrons each subshell can hold: s (2 electrons), p (6 electrons), d (10 electrons).
After filling 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, and 3p^6 (which accounts for 18 electrons), place the next electrons in 4s (2 electrons), then 3d (10 electrons), which brings the total to 30 electrons.
Place the last electron in the 4p subshell, resulting in 4p^1, completing the ground-state electron configuration for gallium.
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