Final answer:
The CN ion, composed of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom, possesses a total of 10 valence electrons. The distribution of these electrons among the orbitals can be illustrated by an energy-level diagram.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CN ion, which consists of a carbon atom (C) and a nitrogen atom (N), has a total of 10 valence electrons. These electrons are distributed among the five lowest-energy orbitals, with 4 electrons coming from carbon, 5 from nitrogen, and an extra electron due to the -1 charge. This electron configuration can be represented using an energy-level diagram.
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