Interesting Answer...

[UCF FINatic]

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The electronic configuration of a
particular neutral atom is
1s22s22p63s23p2. What is the number of
unpaired electrons in this atom?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4​

E. 0

I put (B.) as my answer since the 3p2 are the only two unpaired electrons. According to exam the correct answer is (C.). I have no clue how that can have three unpaired electrons though. Can anyone help me see why its three or if the answer given is incorrect? Thanks!

 

[HannibalLecter]

67.​

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The electronic configuration of a
particular neutral atom is
1s22s22p63s23p2. What is the number of
unpaired electrons in this atom?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4​

E. 0

I put (B.) as my answer since the 3p2 are the only two unpaired electrons. According to exam the correct answer is (C.). I have no clue how that can have three unpaired electrons though. Can anyone help me see why its three or if the answer given is incorrect? Thanks!

Well the electron actually jumps from the s orbital into the p orbital....lol I am joking you are right the answer choice is wrong, the right answer like you said is 2 unpaired electrons in the p orbitals.

Source: Expertise in atomic electron configurations

 

[UCF FINatic]

Well the electron actually jumps from the s orbital into the p orbital....lol I am joking you are right the answer choice is wrong, the right answer like you said is 2 unpaired electrons in the p orbitals.

Source: Expertise in atomic electron configurations

Damn now you have me thinking lol.

If 3p3 is more stable than 3p2, since it would be a half-filled subshell, would one electron jump from the 3s2 shell into the 3p2 shell. That way you would have 4 half-filled subshells. But even then the answer would be 4 and not 3 lol.

 

[Potatochips]

Damn now you have me thinking lol.

If 3p3 is more stable than 3p2, since it would be a half-filled subshell, would one electron jump from the 3s2 shell into the 3p2 shell. That way you would have 4 half-filled subshells. But even then the answer would be 4 and not 3 lol.

I have yet to seen any example where two electrons located in p subshell take one electron off from s orbitals. So don't get confused further your answer is correct.

Sources from: Another electron configuration expert

 

[UCF FINatic]

I have yet to seen any example where two electrons located in p subshell take one electron off from s orbitals. So don't get confused further your answer is correct.

Sources from: Another electron configuration expert

I think I was confusing myself with the D orbital, just trying to justify how they could have gotten 3.