Questions: Write the electron configuration for a neutral atom of xenon.
Transcript text: Write the electron configuration for a neutral atom of xenon.
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Determine the Atomic Number of Xenon
Xenon is a noble gas with the chemical symbol Xe. The atomic number of xenon is 54, which means a neutral atom of xenon has 54 electrons.
Step 2: Understand the Order of Electron Filling
Electrons fill atomic orbitals in a specific order based on their energy levels. The order of filling is determined by the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals first. The order of filling is as follows:
1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, and so on.
Step 3: Write the Electron Configuration for Xenon
Using the order of filling, we can write the electron configuration for xenon by filling the orbitals with 54 electrons:
1s: 2 electrons
2s: 2 electrons
2p: 6 electrons
3s: 2 electrons
3p: 6 electrons
4s: 2 electrons
3d: 10 electrons
4p: 6 electrons
5s: 2 electrons
4d: 10 electrons
5p: 6 electrons
Adding these up gives a total of 54 electrons, which matches the atomic number of xenon.
Final Answer
The electron configuration for a neutral atom of xenon is: