Final answer:
The electron configuration representing an atom with 6 valence electrons is option b) 2s² 2p⁴, with 2 electrons in the 2s orbital and 4 electrons in the 2p orbitals.
The correc option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The electron configuration that represents an atom with 6 valence electrons is b) 2s² 2p⁴. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that determine its chemical properties.
To determine the number of valence electrons, look at the highest energy level, or principal quantum number, in the configuration.
Here, the highest energy level is n=2, which includes the 2s and 2p orbitals. Since 2s can hold a maximum of 2 electrons and 2p can hold a maximum of 6 electrons, the configuration 2s² 2p⁴ totals 6 valence electrons.
The correc option is b.