What is the ground-state electron configuration of a neutral atom of sodium?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 1, 2018

Well, you gots sodium, #Z=11...#

Explanation:

And so in the neutral atom, we gots ELEVEN electrons to distribute...

#1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(1)#

And, as is typical, this electronic configuration reflects Periodic Structure....sodium is an #"s-block element"#. We gots #Z=11#, that starts on the THIRD PERIOD, with a SINGLE #3s# electron....

Sodium metal is thus a good reducing agent that readily forms #Na^+#...what is the electronic structure of this ion.....and to which NEUTRAL atom is it equivalent?

Related questions
See all questions in Excited States and Ground States
Impact of this question
10157 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License