Which diagram below correctly represents the lowest-energy electron configuration of an oxygen atom?

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11ecba2d_1211_977e_a3bf_63c6814d7d66_MD0008_00 An electron configuration accounts for the placement of all electrons within the shells and subshells of an atom or ion. Shells are indicated using the principal quantum number n, which relates to the distance of an orbital from the nucleus. Subshells are labeled by type (s, p, d, or f ), which relates to the shapes of the occupied orbitals present. Electron configurations are listed sequentially in order of increasing energy (Aufbau principle). Moreover, the Pauli exclusion principle states that each orbital within a subshell can hold a maximum of two electrons, which must have opposite spins. In schematic diagrams, these electrons are represented by arrows, and the spin of each electron is indicated by the orientation of the arrow (up or down). The orbitals containing the electrons are often represented by blanks or boxes. As the orbitals are filled, Hund's rule states that electrons remain unpaired until pairing is required to add another electron. Following the Aufbau principle, the Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule, the eight electrons in oxygen must have a configuration of 1s²2s²2p⁴ with a schematic representation of 1s 11ecba2d_1211_be8f_a3bf_b7032ec7eaec_MD0008_00 2s 11ecba2d_1211_be90_a3bf_796956ebd75b_MD0008_00 2p 11ecba2d_1211_be91_a3bf_a5f03730c543_MD0008_00 (Choice A) This configuration violates Hund's rule. Two of the electrons in the 2p subshell should remain unpaired. (Choice B) This configuration violates the Pauli exclusion principle. All paired electrons (including those in the 2p subshell) must have opposite spins. (Choice C) This configuration violates the Aufbau principle. In the lowest-energy configuration, the lower energy orbitals (such as the 2s orbital) are filled before the orbitals of higher energy. Educational objective: An electron configuration accounts for all electrons held within the orbitals of an atom or ion, listed sequentially by shell and subshell in order of increasing energy following the Aufbau principle, Hund's rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle.

Which Diagram Below Correctly Represents the Lowest-Energy Electron Configuration of an Oxygen