Question #3ee3e

1 Answer
Oct 1, 2017

["Ne"]3s^2 3p^5

Explanation:

Shorthand electronic configurations are written with the symbol of noble gas having the closest lowest atomic number.
In this case, it's Neon (Ne).

A chlorine atom has 17 electrons. Neon has 10. So, the electronic configuration will be in the form [Ne] (something) . And [Ne] represents 10 core electrons.

Electronic configurations are written as 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6. Where the superscripts are the maximum electrons in that orbit.

STEP 1: For Chlorine, the first 10 (core) electrons can be written as color(blue)(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 (which is the electronic configuration of Neon, obviously).

STEP 2: Now we can divide the rest seven electrons in into two orbits - color(red)(3s " & " 3p.
Since 3s can hold only 2 electrons, the rest 5 will go to 3p.

Step 3: So,the electronic configuration of Chlorine atom would be color(blue)(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6) color(red)( 3s^2 3p^5

STEP 4: Now, after substituting color(blue)(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 for color(blue)(["Ne"], the shorthand electronic configuration of Chlorine atom would be
color(blue)(["Ne"]color(red)(3s^2 3p^5.

Hope that helps!