Question

Be sure to answer all parts. One reason spectroscopists study excited states is to gain information about the energies of orbitals that are unoccupied in an atom's ground state. The following electron configuration represents an atom in an excited state. Identify the element and write its condensed ground-state configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 3p1

Answer 1

The element is magnesium

[Ne]3s2

Step-by-step explanation:

When an atom is excited, electrons move from a lower to a higher energy level. These higher energy levels are called excited states. The ground state is the lowest energy arrangement of electrons.

Excited states are important in spectroscopy. It gives scientists an idea of the unoccupied orbitals in the ground state. This is easily deduced from the fact that the specie has twelve electrons in all.

Magnesium has ground state configuration as shown in the answer but has an excited state as shown in the question.