Ch.9 - Periodic Properties of the Elements

Tro - Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 6th Edition

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Tro 6th Edition

Ch.9 - Periodic Properties of the Elements

Problem 50b

Chapter 9, Problem 50b

Name an element in the third period (row) of the periodic table with the following: b. five 3p electrons

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand that the third period of the periodic table refers to the third row. This row includes the elements from sodium (Na) to argon (Ar).

Step 2: Recall that the 3p subshell is part of the third energy level (n=3). In the periodic table, the 3p subshell starts filling after the 3s subshell is filled. The 3p subshell can hold a maximum of 6 electrons.

Step 3: Identify that the elements in the third period with 3p electrons are from aluminum (Al) to argon (Ar).

Step 4: Count the number of 3p electrons for each element starting from aluminum (Al). Aluminum has one 3p electron, silicon (Si) has two, phosphorus (P) has three, sulfur (S) has four, and chlorine (Cl) has five.

Step 5: Conclude that the element in the third period of the periodic table with five 3p electrons is chlorine (Cl).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Periodic Table Structure

The periodic table is organized into rows (periods) and columns (groups) based on atomic number and electron configuration. Elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells. The third period includes elements with three electron shells, where the outermost shell is the 3rd shell.

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. For elements in the third period, the electron configuration follows the order of filling the 3s and 3p orbitals. The presence of five 3p electrons indicates that the element has a total of five electrons in the 3p subshell, which is filled after the 3s subshell.

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding. In the context of the third period, having five 3p electrons means the element has a total of five valence electrons, which influences its chemical properties and reactivity. This is characteristic of elements like phosphorus, which has the electron configuration of [Ne] 3s² 3p³.

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