Give the electron configuration of the following elements.
(b) N

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the concept of electron configuration. Electron configuration describes the arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals, following the principles of the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule.

Step 2: Determine the atomic number of nitrogen (N). The atomic number of nitrogen is 7, which means it has 7 electrons to arrange in its orbitals.

Step 3: Apply the Aufbau principle to fill the orbitals in order of increasing energy levels. The order is: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, etc. For nitrogen, start filling the orbitals with 7 electrons.

Step 4: Write the electron configuration step by step. Fill the 1s orbital first with 2 electrons, then the 2s orbital with 2 electrons, and finally distribute the remaining 3 electrons in the 2p orbital according to Hund's rule (maximize unpaired electrons in degenerate orbitals).

Step 5: Express the final electron configuration for nitrogen using the notation:

{1s}^{2} {2s}^{2} {2p}^{3} . This indicates 2 electrons in the 1s orbital, 2 electrons in the 2s orbital, and 3 electrons in the 2p orbital.

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Key Concepts

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

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. It is represented using a notation that indicates the energy levels and sublevels occupied by electrons, following the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule. Understanding electron configuration is essential for predicting an element's chemical properties and reactivity.

Atomic Number

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus, which also equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom. For nitrogen (N), the atomic number is 7, indicating that it has seven electrons. This number is crucial for determining the electron configuration and understanding the element's position in the periodic table.

Orbital Filling Order

The order in which electrons fill atomic orbitals is determined by their energy levels, typically following the sequence of increasing energy (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, etc.). This order is guided by the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals first. Knowing this order is vital for accurately writing the electron configuration of an element.

Give the electron configuration of the following elements.(b) N