What is the electron configuration for a chloride ion?

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Answer 1 · 2015-12-31T11:40:58

$1"s"^2 2"s"^2 2"p"^6 3"s"^2 3"p"^6$

OR

$"[Ne]" 3"s"^2 3"p"^6$

The electron configuration of a chlorine atom ( $"Cl"$ ) is as follows:

$1"s"^2 2"s"^2 2"p"^6 3"s"^2 3"p"^5$

But a chlorine ion ( $"Cl"^-$ ) has acquired a $"(1)-"$ charge as a result of gaining 1 electron. Thus, its electron configuration is:

$1"s"^2 2"s"^2 2"p"^6 3"s"^2 3"p"^6$

This may also be expressed as:

$"[Ne]" 3"s"^2 3"p"^6$