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An atomic cation with a charge of +1 has the following electron configuration: 1s²2s²2p⁶

What is the Chemical symbol for the ion?

User Mutuma
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Final answer:

The chemical symbol for the atomic cation with a +1 charge and the electron configuration 1s²2s²2p⁶ is Na+, representing a sodium cation.

Step-by-step explanation:

An atomic cation with a charge of +1 and the electron configuration 1s²2s²2p⁶ is most likely to be the sodium cation, Na+. This is because the neutral sodium atom has an atomic number of 11, which gives it the electron configuration of 1s²2s²2p⁶3s¹. When it loses one electron to form a cation with a +1 charge, it loses the 3s electron, resulting in the configuration 1s²2s²2p⁶, which matches the electron configuration stated in the question. This configuration is the same as the noble gas neon, thus Na+ has a noble gas configuration.

The electron configuration you've described, 1s²2s²2p⁶, corresponds to a fully filled outer shell, which mirrors the electron configuration of the noble gas neon. Sodium, with an atomic number of 11, has an electron configuration of 1s²2s²2p⁶3s¹ in its neutral state. When it loses one electron to become the Na+ cation, it achieves a stable configuration by losing its outermost 3s electron, resulting in the configuration 1s²2s²2p⁶, identical to that of neon. This similarity in electron configuration is why Na+ shares the noble gas configuration, which indicates a stable electron arrangement.

User Johnnycardy
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