How many electrons are in the highest occupied energy level of these atoms?
Na(sodium)
Al (aluminum)
F(fluorine)
C(carbon)
To determine the number of electrons in the highest occupied energy level of an atom, you need to know its electron configuration. The electron configuration describes the arrangement of electrons within an atom's energy levels.
Let's find the electron configurations for each of the atoms you mentioned:
1. Sodium (Na): The atomic number of sodium is 11, which means it has 11 electrons. The electron configuration for sodium is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1. From the electron configuration, we can see that there is 1 electron in the highest occupied energy level (3s).
2. Aluminum (Al): The atomic number of aluminum is 13, which means it has 13 electrons. The electron configuration for aluminum is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^1. From the electron configuration, we can see that there is 1 electron in the highest occupied energy level (3p).
3. Fluorine (F): The atomic number of fluorine is 9, which means it has 9 electrons. The electron configuration for fluorine is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^5. From the electron configuration, we can see that there are 7 electrons in the highest occupied energy level (2p).
4. Carbon (C): The atomic number of carbon is 6, which means it has 6 electrons. The electron configuration for carbon is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2. From the electron configuration, we can see that there are 4 electrons in the highest occupied energy level (2p).
Therefore, the number of electrons in the highest occupied energy level for each atom is as follows:
- Sodium (Na): 1 electron
- Aluminum (Al): 1 electron
- Fluorine (F): 7 electrons
- Carbon (C): 4 electrons
To determine the number of electrons in the highest occupied energy level of these atoms, we need to look at their electron configurations.
1. Sodium (Na):
The electron configuration of sodium is 1s^22s^22p^63s^1. Since sodium is in period 3, the highest occupied energy level is the 3rd energy level. In this level, there is one electron in the 3s orbital.
Therefore, sodium has 1 electron in its highest occupied energy level.
2. Aluminum (Al):
The electron configuration of aluminum is 1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^1. Like sodium, aluminum is also in period 3. In the 3rd energy level, there are two electrons in the 3s orbital and one electron in the 3p orbital.
Therefore, aluminum has 3 electrons in its highest occupied energy level.
3. Fluorine (F):
The electron configuration of fluorine is 1s^22s^22p^5. Fluorine is in period 2, so the highest occupied energy level is the 2nd energy level. In this level, there are two electrons in the 2s orbital and five electrons in the 2p orbital.
Therefore, fluorine has 7 electrons in its highest occupied energy level.
4. Carbon (C):
The electron configuration of carbon is 1s^22s^22p^2. Carbon is also in period 2, so the highest occupied energy level is the 2nd energy level. In this level, there are two electrons in the 2s orbital and two electrons in the 2p orbital.
Therefore, carbon has 4 electrons in its highest occupied energy level.