The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom

[bugmenotlol]

The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom is "1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2". The number of upaired electrons in this atom is ______.

Answer says 3

I dont get it. I would have said 4. Can someone please help??

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[celeron_266]

huh?...should be 2

1s, 2s, 2p, 3s are all filled, so no unpaired electrons there

only 3p is not completely filled, and according to Hund's rule, you put the 2 electron into different orbitals, so only those two electrons are unpaired

 

[joonkimdds]

The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom is "1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2". The number of upaired electrons in this atom is ______.

Answer says 3

I dont get it. I would have said 4. Can someone please help??

answer is 3.
p has 3 orbitals meaning 3 blanks.
each blank has 2 electrons, up and down.
u put up up up then down down down.
it says 3p2 meaning there are up up.
all 3 blanks have unpaired electrons. 3rd blank doesn't even have 1 electron.
I would like to say it's poorly worded.
they assumed NO Electron = unpaired, and 2 electron in a blank = paired.

 

[tinman831]

Joon's explanation is right but his math is a little off. There are two orbitals that have one electron in each (thus 2 unpaired electrons). The answer key you have is probably wrong.

 

[HOTTY]

That is the problem with Kaplan and other study aids. If you don't know the material, you don't know when they are wrong.


Poor Question

 

[Farboodi]

Answer is 2!!!!

 

[spoog74]

The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom is "1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2". The number of upaired electrons in this atom is ______.

Answer says 3

I dont get it. I would have said 4. Can someone please help??

answer is 2

3p2 means P orbital which has 3 shells and 2 unpaired