Final answer:
The correct statement about sodium and potassium is that both have an electron configuration (EC) ending in s1, signifying that they have one electron in their outermost s orbital, which reflects their position in Group 1 of the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement concerning sodium (Na) and potassium (K) is: Both have EC ending in s1.
Sodium and potassium are elements that belong to Group 1 of the periodic table, known as the alkali metals. Their valence electron configurations are important for understanding their chemical properties. A sodium atom, with an atomic number of 11, has the electron configuration [Ne]3s¹. Similarly, potassium has an atomic number of 19 and the electron configuration [Ar]4s¹. Thus, both elements have a single electron in their outermost s orbital, which is the highest energy level that contains electrons.
Let's evaluate the options given in the question:
- Both have QN n = 3: This is incorrect as potassium has its outermost electron in the fourth shell (n = 4).
- Both use a krypton core for their EC: Sodium actually uses a neon core, so this statement is incorrect.
- Their highest energy electrons have opposite spins: This information about the spin of electrons is not typically associated with sodium and potassium without additional context, and as such, it is not a definitive characteristic.
- Both have EC ending in s1: This is correct, as explained above with their respective electron configurations