The electron configuration below represents a ground-state atom of which element? 1s22s22p63s23p4

The electron configuration below represents a ground-state atom of which element? 1s22s22p63s23p4

Answer:

Sulfur

Explanation:

There are two ways to get the answer.

1. Count the electrons.

The electron configuration is 1s² 2s²2p⁶ 3s²3p⁴.

The numbers in the superscripts tell you how many electrons are in each subshell.

They add up to 16, and element 16 is sulfur.

2. Look at the outermost shell.

The outermost shell has the electron configuration 3s²3p⁴.

This tells you that the element is in Period 3 and has six valence electrons.

Start at the left of Period 3 (Na). Count six places to the right, and you come to sulfur.