Question

What element has the noble gas electron configuration
[Kr]5524d105p?

Answer 1

The element with the electron configuration [Kr]5s²4d±105p is tin (Sn). Check Your Learning exercises involve identifying electron configurations for elements or ions, such as the electron configuration of phosphorus and its anion, phosphide.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about an element with the given electron configuration of [Kr]5s²4d±105p. Based on this configuration, the element is tin (Sn), which is located in the second column of the p block and typically has an electron configuration that ends in p². Tin's complete electron configuration is indeed [Kr]5s²4d±105p².

Check Your Learning tasks often involve writing electron configurations for specific elements or identifying elements based on their electron configurations. For example, the configuration of phosphorus (P) atom would be [Ne]3s²3p³, and for its negative ion, phosphide (P³⁻), the electron configuration would be [Ne]3s²3p¶, signifying the gain of three electrons to achieve a full p orbital, hence the charge on the anion is -3.

Answer 2

What is a noble gas electron configuration?

A noble gas electron configuration is a configuration that completes the Octet Rule of achieving 8 valence electrons.

Atoms always behave in ways to achieve stability and as you probably know, Noble Gases are the most stable. Their configuration, with a full valence electron shell (8 electrons, when you add both the S & P sublevels together, this is why it’s called the Octet), is therefore desirable. This means metals on the far left of the table will lose electrons to achieve this noble gas configuration and nonmetals on the right will gain electrons (generally speaking).

For example; take Argon. Its electron configuration is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6, meaning it has 8 valence electrons. Then, take Chlorine. It has the electron configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^5, meaning it has 7 valence electrons so it’s a very unhappy camper. It typically gains an electron to achieve the 8 valence electrons Argon has (even using the same configuration of 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6) because it’s Mega jealous of Argon’ s stability. Side note: this is why chlorine typically has a -1 charge!

In summary, an atom achieving a “Noble Gas configuration” is the same as saying an atom fulfilling the Octet Rule. Both mean that there are 8 valence electrons (electrons in shell furthest from nucleus). This is a stable form many atoms seek to achieve (of course, what’s a good rule in chemistry if there aren’t exceptions!).