GREPhysics.NET: GR9277 #58

GR9277 #58

Problem

GREPhysics.NET Official Solution

\prob{58}
The ground state configuration of a neutral sodium atom (Z=11) is

$1s^22s^22p^53s^2$
$1s^22s^32p^63$
$1s^22s^22p^63s$
$1s^22s^22p^63p$
$1s^22s^2sp^5$

Atomic $\Rightarrow$ }Orbitals

Eliminate (E) immediately since the superscripts do not add to 11. Each superscript stands for an electron.

Eliminate (B) because the s orbital can only carry 2 electrons.

Ground state means none of the electrons are promoted, and there are no states with unfilled gaps in them.

Eliminate (A) since it promotes the 2p electron to 3s, leaving a unfilled orbital of lower energy.

Eliminate (D) since it promotes the 3s electron to 3p, leaving an empty orbital of lower energy.

Choice (C) is it.

Alternate Solutions

There are no Alternate Solutions for this problem. Be the first to post one!

Comments

hoyas08
2008-06-17 15:48:49

Choice (B) should read: 1 $s^2$ 2 $s^3$ 2 $p^6$

Reply to this comment

neutrino
2007-11-02 10:27:37

should we read;

$3s=3s^(1)$
?

Because else choice C does not add to 11 electrons (2+2+6=10)

neutrino
2007-11-02 10:29:06

oeps, latex does not catch my brackets:

$3s^1$

it should be...

evanb
2008-06-23 19:40:06

Yes, 3s should be read as 3s $^1$ . Otherwise, you wouldn't write it at all, or you would specify 3s $^2$ .

Reply to this comment

Post A Comment!

Bare Basic LaTeX Rosetta Stone
LaTeX syntax supported through dollar sign wrappers $, ex., $\alpha^2_0$ produces $\alpha^2_0$ .
type this...	to get...
$\int_0^\infty$	$\int_0^\infty$
$\partial$	$\partial$
$\Rightarrow$	$\Rightarrow$
$\ddot{x},\dot{x}$	$\ddot{x},\dot{x}$
$\sqrt{z}$	$\sqrt{z}$
$\langle my \rangle$	$\langle my \rangle$
$\left( abacadabra \right)_{me}$	$\left( abacadabra \right)_{me}$
$\vec{E}$	$\vec{E}$
$\frac{a}{b}$	$\frac{a}{b}$

The Sidebar Chatbox...
Scroll to see it, or resize your browser to ignore it...

<a href="http://www6.shoutmix.com/?grephysics">View shoutbox</a>
ShoutMix chat widget

Free 3D Virtual World. Largest User-Created Fantasy World. Don't Play, Experience. Join Now!

Bored, got time to kill, and want to earn micro-cash by mindlessly clicking on links? Join CrownGPT. Click Offers. Click the Paid to Click button... then click to your heart's delight.

FREE 3D Virtual World Chat - Join Second Life Today!

All-Solutions List | Latest Comments | Unanswered Questions (Cries for Help!) |::| About

This site is not affiliated with ETS, nor is it officially endorsed (yet) by ETS. This site is the work of an individual named Yosun Chang. The solutions, sans user comments and ETS questions, are © 2005 by Yosun Chang except where noted. All rights reserved. / The comments appending particular solutions are due to the respective users. / Educational Testing Service, ETS, the ETS logo, Graduate Record Examinations, and GRE are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service. The examination questions are © 1997 and © 2001 by ETS.

Bare Basic LaTeX Rosetta Stone