Question

An atom has a valence shell electron configuration of `ns^1`. To which group of elements in the periodic table does it belong?

Answer 1

Group 1.

Explanation:

In an electron configuration under the general form of `ns^1`, the `n` represents the period number and the `1` represents the group number, and therefore, the element would be in group 1.

Example,
`""_1H:1s^1`

`""_3Li:1s^(2)2s^(1)`

`""_11Na:1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(1)`

Hydrogen, Lithium and sodium electron configuration end with `1s^1`, `2s^1` and `3s^1` respectively. They are all group 1 elements however, the period number is different; 1, 2 and 3 respectively.