Which of the following statements is true concerning the electron configuration [Ne]3s¹3p¹? A)It may represent a ground-state electron configuration of a Al⁺ cation. B)It may represent an excited-state electron configuration of a Mg atom. C)It may represent an excited-state electron configuration of a Ne^- anion. D)It may represent a ground-state electron configuration of a Mg⁺ cation. E)It may represent a ground-state electron configuration of a Na⁺ cation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electron configuration [Ne]3s¹3p¹ contains the ground-state configuration of neon ([Ne]) followed by excited electrons in the 3s, 3p, and 4s orbitals. This configuration cannot represent a cation since there are no electrons to remove, but it could represent an excited-state electron configuration of a neutral atom such as Mg. Therefore, option B is correct. Options A, C, D, and E are incorrect.

Which of the Following Statements Is True Concerning the Electron