Question

Write the ground-state electron configuration of boron

Answer 1

The ground-state electron configuration of boron, which has five electrons, is represented as 1s² 2s² 2p¹, where the electrons fill the 1s, 2s, and one 2p orbital in that order.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ground-state electron configuration of boron (atomic number 5) can be written by first filling the lowest energy orbitals and then progressing to higher energy orbitals. Boron has a total of five electrons to place in these orbitals.

1. The first two electrons occupy the 1s orbital: 1s².
2. The next two electrons fill the 2s orbital: 2s².
3. The fifth electron enters one of the three degenerate 2p orbitals: 2p¹.

Therefore, the ground-state electron configuration for boron is 1s² 2s² 2p¹.

Boron, with the atomic number 5, has an electron configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p¹. The first energy level accommodates two electrons in the 1s sublevel, while the second energy level houses three electrons in the 2s and 2p sublevels. This arrangement reflects the distribution of electrons in the ground state, adhering to the Pauli Exclusion Principle and Aufbau Principle.