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?

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