An element with an electron configuration of #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1# will have properties most similar to which element?

1 Answer
May 17, 2018

sodium (Na)

Explanation:

Given: electron configuration #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1#

The periodic table can generally be used to find the electron configuration of an element. There are a few special cases:

1st column, hydrogen + alkali metals: #1s^1#

2nd column, alkaline earth metals: #1s^2#

3rd-12th columns, transition metals: #d^1 -> d^6#

13th-18th columns, Boron - neon: #p^1 -> p^6#

Inner transition metals: #f^1 -> f^14#

Look at the last set of electrons (valence) in your example: #3s^1#

This means the element falls within the column 1: alkali metals. The #3# represents the number of energy levels (periodic table row).

This means #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1# = the electron configuration for sodium (Na).