Math

QuestionFind the ground-state electron configuration of selenium using the Aufbau principle.

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

Assumptions1. We are dealing with a neutral selenium atom. . We are using the Aufbau principle to determine the electron configuration. The Aufbau principle states that electrons fill atomic orbitals of the lowest available energy levels before occupying higher levels.

STEP 2

We need to know the atomic number of selenium. The atomic number of an element corresponds to the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons.elenium is the34th element on the periodic table, so it has34 electrons.

STEP 3

We start filling up the energy levels with electrons according to the Aufbau principle. The order of filling is as follows1s,2s,2p,3s,3p,s,3d,p,5s,d,5p,6s,f,5d,6p,7s,5f,6d,7p.

STEP 4

Start filling the energy levels with electrons. Each s orbital can hold2 electrons, each p orbital can hold6, each d orbital can hold10, and each f orbital can hold14.
The electron configuration up to3p is as follows1s22s22p63s23p61s^22s^22p^63s^23p^6This accounts for18 electrons.

STEP 5

Continue filling the energy levels with electrons. The4s orbital is filled next1s22s22p3s23p4s21s^22s^22p^3s^23p^4s^2This accounts for20 electrons.

STEP 6

The3d orbital is filled next1s22s22p63s23p64s23d101s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}This accounts for30 electrons.

STEP 7

The4p orbital is filled next. Since we only have4 more electrons left (34-30), only four of the six available spaces in the4p orbital will be filled1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p41s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4p^4This accounts for all34 electrons.
So, the ground-state electron configuration of selenium is 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p41s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4p^4.

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