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3.2.0.0: Electron Configurations (Problems)

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    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Using complete subshell notation (no abbreviations), predict the electron configuration of each of the following atoms:

    1. C
    2. P
    3. V
    4. Sb
    5. Sm
    Answer a

    1s22s22p2

    Answer b

    1s22s22p63s23p3

    Answer c

    1s22s22p63s23p63d34s2

    Answer d

    1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25p3

    Answer e

    1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d104f65s25p66s2.

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Using complete subshell notation, predict the electron configuration of each of the following atoms:

    1. N
    2. Si
    3. Fe
    4. Te
    5. Tb
    Answer a

    1s22s22p3

    Answer b

    1s22s22p63s23p2

    Answer c

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d6

    Answer d

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p4

    Answer e

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f9

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Use an orbital diagram to describe the electron configuration of the valence shell of each of the following atoms:

    1. N
    2. Si
    3. Fe
    4. Te
    5. Mo
    Answer a

    CNX_Chem_06_04_OrbDiaSh2a_img.jpg

    Answer b

    This figure includes a square followed by 3 squares all connected in a single row. The first square is labeled below as, “2 s.” The connected squares are labeled below as, “2 p.” The first square has a pair of half arrows: one pointing up and the other down. The first two squares in the row of connected squares contain a single upward pointing arrow. The third square is empty.

    Answer c

    This figure includes a square followed by 5 squares all connected in a single row. The first square is labeled below as, “4 s.” The connected squares are labeled below as, “3 d.” The first square and the left-most square in the row of connected squares each has a pair of half arrows: one pointing up and the other down. Each of the remaining squares contains a single upward pointing arrow.

    Answer d

    This figure includes a square followed by 3 squares all connected in a single row. The first square is labeled below as, “5 s superscript 2.” The connected squares are labeled below as, “5 p. superscript 4.” The first square and the left-most square in the row of connect squares each has a pair of half arrows: one pointing up and the other down. Each of the remaining squares contains a single upward pointing arrow.

    Answer e

    This figure includes a square followed by 5 squares all connected in a single row. The first square is labeled below as, “5 s.” The connected squares are labeled below as, “4 d superscript 5.” Each of the squares contains a single upward pointing arrow.

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Using complete subshell notation (1s22s22p6, and so forth), predict the electron configurations of the following ions.

    1. N3–
    2. Ca2+
    3. S–
    4. Cs2+
    5. Cr2+
    6. Gd3+
    Answer a

    1s22s22p6

    Answer b

    1s22s22p63s23p6

    Answer c

    1s22s22p63s23p5

    Answer d

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p5

    Answer e

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d2

    Answer f

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f5

    Click here to see a video of the solution

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Which atom has the electron configuration: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d2?

    Answer

    Zr

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Which atom has the electron configuration: 1s22s22p63s23p63d74s2?

    Answer

    Co

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    a. Which ion with a +1 charge has the electron configuration 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p6?

    b. Which ion with a –2 charge has this configuration?

    Answer a

    Rb+

    Answer b

    Se2−

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{8}\)

    Which of the following atoms contains only three valence electrons: Li, B, N, F, Ne?

    Answer

    B

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{9}\)

    Which of the following has two unpaired electrons?

    1. Mg
    2. Si
    3. S
    4. Both Mg and S
    5. Both Si and S.
    Answer

    Although both (b) and (c) are correct, (e) encompasses both and is the best answer.

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{10}\)

    Which atom would be expected to have a half-filled 6p subshell?

    Answer

    Bi

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{11}\)

    Which atom would be expected to have a half-filled 4s subshell?

    Answer

    K

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{12}\)

    In one area of Australia, the cattle did not thrive despite the presence of suitable forage. An investigation showed the cause to be the absence of sufficient cobalt in the soil. Cobalt forms cations in two oxidation states, Co2+ and Co3+. Write the electron structure of the two cations.

    Answer

    Co2+: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d5

    Co3+: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d4

    Click here to see a video of the solution

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{13}\)

    Thallium was used as a poison in the Agatha Christie mystery story “The Pale Horse.” Thallium has two possible cationic forms, +1 and +3. The +1 compounds are the more stable. Write the electron structure of the +1 cation of thallium.

    Answer

    1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25p66s24f145d10

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{14}\)

    Write the electron configurations for the following atoms or ions:

    1. B3+
    2. O–
    3. Cl3+
    4. Ca2+
    5. Ti
    Answer a

    1s2

    Answer b

    1s22s22p5

    Answer c

    1s22s22p63s23p2

    Answer d

    1s22s22p63s23p6

    Answer e

    1s22s22p63s23p64s23d2

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{15}\)

    Cobalt–60 and iodine–131 are radioactive isotopes commonly used in nuclear medicine. How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in atoms of these isotopes? Write the complete electron configuration for each isotope.

    Answer

    Co has 27 protons, 27 electrons, and 33 neutrons: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d7.

    I has 53 protons, 53 electrons, and 78 neutrons: 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25p5.

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{16}\)

    Atoms of which group in the periodic table have a valence shell electron configuration of ns2np3?

    Answer

    15 (5A)

    PROBLEM \(\PageIndex{17}\)

    Atoms of which group in the periodic table have a valence shell electron configuration of ns2?

    Answer

    2 (2A)

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