electronic configuration question ??

[Kobebucsfan]

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The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom is
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2.

What is the number of unpaired electrons in this atom?


well The ADA answer key says the answer is 3 but i keep getting 2 as the answer

b/c in p orbital there are like 3 lines ___ ___ ___

and since its 3p2

__1__ __1__ _____

so 2 electrons are unpaired ? why is the answer 3 ???

maybe there is a typo in the answer key but can the ADA DAT exam have typos ?
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[chromosome21]

i'd have guessed 2 unpaired electrons too.. unless it mentions the atom is sp3 hybridized. And even if that's the case, we'd have 4 unpaired electrons.

 

[TKDentist]

Your logic is correct in this case, and you correctly illustrated the reasoning. It must be a typo. Huh...