Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct electron configuration for the Co^{2+} ion?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following is an invalid listing within an electron configuration?
A
3d^{10}
B
2p^7
C
1s^2
D
4s^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that electron configurations describe the distribution of electrons in atomic orbitals, where the superscript indicates the number of electrons in that subshell.
Understand the maximum number of electrons allowed in each type of subshell: s can hold up to 2 electrons, p up to 6 electrons, d up to 10 electrons, and f up to 14 electrons.
Examine each given configuration and check if the superscript exceeds the maximum allowed electrons for that subshell. For example, 3d^{10} is valid because d subshell can hold 10 electrons.
Identify that 2p^7 is invalid because the p subshell can only hold a maximum of 6 electrons, so having 7 electrons in 2p is not possible.
Confirm that 1s^2 and 4s^2 are valid configurations since s subshells can hold up to 2 electrons.
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