Question

determine whether each of the following electron configurations is an inert gas, a halogen, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a transition metal. Justify your choices.

Answer 1

This is an incomplete question, here is a complete question.

Determine whether each of the following electron configurations is an inert gas, a halogen, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a transition metal. Justify your choices.

(a) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^5$

(b) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^74s^2$

(c) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^{10}4s^24p^6$

(d) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^4s^1$

Answer :

(a) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^5$   → Halogen

(b) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^74s^2$    → Transition metal

(c) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^{10}4s^24p^6$   → Transition metal

(d) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^4s^1$   → Transition metal

Explanation :

Inert gas : These are the gases which lie in group 18.

Their general electronic configuration is: $ns^2np^6$ where n is the outermost shell.

Halogen : These are the elements which lie in group 17.

Their general electronic configuration is: $ns^2np^5$ where n is the outermost shell.

An alkali metal : These are the elements which lie in group 1.

Their general electronic configuration is: $ns^1$ where n is the outermost shell.

An alkaline earth metal : These are the elements which lie in group 2.

Their general electronic configuration is: $ns^2$ where n is the outermost shell.

Transition elements : They are the elements which lie between 's' and 'p' block elements. These are the elements which lie in group 3 to 12. The valence electrons of these elements enter d-orbital.

Their general electronic configuration is: $(n-1)d^{1-10}ns^{0-2}$ where n is the outermost shell.

(a) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^5$

The element having this electronic configuration belongs to the halogen family.

(b) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^74s^2$

The element having this electronic configuration belongs to the transition family.

(c) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^{10}4s^24p^6$

The element having this electronic configuration belongs to the transition family.

(d) $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^4s^1$

The element having this electronic configuration belongs to the transition family.