If there are 5 electrons in the neutral atom, what is its identity?

1 Answer
Oct 6, 2017

Surely you have a Periodic Table in front of you now?

Explanation:

Of course you do, you are doing your chemistry homework.

And all the known elements are organized in #"Periods"#, horizontal rows, and #"Groups"#, vertical columns.....And this row, column arrangement reflects electronic structure.

The second (short) Period begins with the alkali metal lithium, with the ONE valence electron, i.e. #1s^(2)2s^(1)#. And the boron ATOM has an electronic configuration of #1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(1)#; if there are 5 electrons, then the NEUTRAL atom contains 5 protons (why?). And if #Z=5#, then we gots #"elemental boron"#.