Question

Question 5 (2 points) A sample of an unknown one-electron species is prepared with the electron initially in the 2px orbital. The electron is promoted to the 5dxy orbital by absorbing light with a frequency of 1.73 x 1016 Hz. How many protons are in the nucleus of this one-electron species? 2 4 6 5 3

Answer 1

The number of protons in the nucleus of the unknown one-electron species is 6.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the question, we are given that an electron in an unknown one-electron species is initially in the 2px orbital and is promoted to the 5dxy orbital by absorbing light with a frequency of 1.73 x 10^16 Hz. We can determine the number of protons in the nucleus of this species by looking at the electron configuration. The electron in the 2px orbital indicates that this species is in the second period (n = 2) of the periodic table. Since the electron is promoted to the 5dxy orbital, it means that we need to look at the fifth period (n = 5) for the one-electron species.

Each period represents the energy level or shell that electrons occupy around the nucleus. The periodic table tells us that the fifth period contains elements with atomic numbers ranging from 57 (lanthanum) to 71 (lutetium) and 89 (actinium) to 103 (lawrencium). Therefore, the one-electron species must have an atomic number between 57 and 71, or between 89 and 103.

From the available answer choices, the only option within this range is 6. Therefore, there must be 6 protons in the nucleus of this one-electron species.