Multiple Choice
Which element has the ground state electron configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^1?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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What is the electron configuration for a nitrogen atom?
A
1s^2 2s^2 2p^3
B
1s^2 2s^2 2p^5
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of nitrogen, which is 7. This means a nitrogen atom has 7 electrons to arrange in its electron configuration.
Recall the order of filling orbitals according to the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, and so on. Electrons fill the lowest energy orbitals first.
Start filling the orbitals with electrons: place 2 electrons in the 1s orbital, then 2 electrons in the 2s orbital, which accounts for 4 electrons so far.
Distribute the remaining 3 electrons into the 2p orbitals. Since 2p can hold up to 6 electrons, placing 3 electrons here corresponds to the nitrogen configuration.
Write the full electron configuration as $1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{3}$, which matches the number of electrons and follows the correct filling order.
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