Question

"Indicate in each whether the following electron configurations correspond to an atom in its ground state, excited state, or is impossible."
a. ${1s}^{2} {2s}^{2} {2p}^{4}$

b. ${1s}^{2} {2s}^{2} {2p}^{3} {2d}^{1}$

c. ${1s}^{2} {2s}^{2} {2p}^{3}{3s}^{1}$

d. ${1s}^{2} {2s}^{1} {2p}^{2}$

e. ${1s}^{2} {2s}^{2} {2p}^{1}$

f. ${1s}^{2} {2s}^{3}$

Please, I really need help. I don't know what to do...

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Firstly, let's define what ground and excited state electronic configuration.

Ground state electronic configuration is when the electrons of the atom are in there lowest possible energy level while excited state electronic configuration is when electron(s) have moved to a higher energy level. Examples of these are provided in the options

a. 1s²2s²2p⁴ - This is a ground state electronic configuration (of oxygen) because the electrons are in there lowest possible energy level.

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c. 1s²2s²2p³3s¹ - We can see from this that an electron jumped from 2p energy level to 3s (p energy level ought to be completely filled with 6 electrons before another electron moves to the next energy level) meaning the electron is in it's excited state thus this is an excited state electronic configuration (of oxygen).

d. 1s²2s¹2p² - We can see from this also that an electron jumped from the 2s energy level to the 2p energy level (making it 2p² instead of 2p¹ in the ground state). The 2s energy level should ordinarily have 2 electrons. Thus, this is an excited state electronic configuration (of boron).

e. 1s²2s²sp¹ - This is a ground state electronic configuration (of boron) since all the electrons are in there lowest possible energy level.

f. 1s²2s³ - This configuration is impossible because the s energy level should only contain a maximum of 2 electrons, thus impossible to have 3 electrons in the s energy level