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Consider a neutral atom with 8 distinct electron binding energies: -14 eV, -28 eV, -94 eV,

-218 eV, -293 eV, -1730 eV, -1921 eV, and -14326 eV.
(a) Name all of the possible ground state atoms that could have these binding energies (without looking up any values).
A) Helium, Beryllium, Carbon, Oxygen, Fluorine, Sodium, Aluminum, Silicon
B) Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon, Oxygen, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon
C) Helium, Carbon, Oxygen, Neon, Sodium, Aluminum, Silicon, Phosphorus
D) Hydrogen, Beryllium, Carbon, Oxygen, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon

User NSSplendid
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Final answer:

To name the possible ground state atoms with the given binding energies, we consider concepts such as ionization energy and electron configurations. The correct answer is likely to be a list of atoms that includes simple elements and spans across several periods to larger noble gases, which in the given options is most consistent with Option D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking us to consider which ground state atoms could have the given electron binding energies. To determine this, we need to look at the number of distinct binding energies, which suggests the number of electron shells in an atom, and the magnitudes of these energies.

Electron binding energies correspond to the energy required to remove an electron from a specific shell of an atom. For instance, the first ionization energy of hydrogen is 13.6 eV, and this refers to the energy needed to remove its one electron. Larger atoms have more complex electron configurations and require more energy to remove electrons from inner shells, hence higher ionization energies for core electrons.

The electron configuration of a neutral atom can be deduced from its atomic number, like in the case of neon (Ne) with an atomic number of 10, or sodium (Na)with an atomic number of 11, which has one more electron than Ne. Based on these configurations, we can determine that the atom in question has multiple electron shells and a sizeable number of electrons due to the range of binding energies, likely placing it in the realm of a medium-sized atom.

Given these clues, the most likely answer from the provided options would be Option D: Hydrogen, Beryllium, Carbon, Oxygen, Neon, Argon, Krypton, and Xenon, as these span the range of elements from the simplest (hydrogen) across several periods on the periodic table to the larger noble gases.

User BMac
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