67.4k views
0 votes
Which of the following is the electron configuration for an electrically neutral atom of oxygen? Use the periodic table if you wish.

1s22s22p6

1s22s22p44d2

1s22s2

1s22s22p4
Please help

2 Answers

1 vote

1s^2 2s^2

Have a nice day

User Arlenis
by
6.8k points
6 votes
The electron configuration for a neutral atom of oxygen would be the final option:

O : 1s^2 2s^2 2p^4.

Knowing that this is a neutral atom of oxygen, and that it posses the same number of electrons and protons, the total number of electrons would be 8. Which can be found out by adding the exponents for each subshell.
User Josephine Moeller
by
6.0k points