What is the electron configuration of Li+?

1 Answer
Stefan V.
Feb 1, 2016

#"Li""^(+): 1s^2#

Explanation:

Your starting point here will be the electron configuration of a neutral lithium atom, #"Li"#.

A quick look in the periodic table will reveal that lithium is located in period 2, group 1, and that it has an atomic number equal to #3#.

This means that a neutral lithium atom will have a total of #3# electrons surrounding its nucleus.

http://www.chemizzle.com/p/electron-configuration.html

Its electron configuration will be

#"Li: " 1s^2 color(red)(2)s^1#

Now, the lithium cation, #"Li"^(+)#, is formed when lithium loses the electron located on its outermost shell #-># its valence electron. This electron is located on the second energy level, in the 2s-orbital.

This means that the electron configuration of the #"Li"^(+)# cation will be

#"Li"^(+): 1s^2#

To write this using noble gas shorthand notation, use the electron configuration of the noble gas that comes before lithium in the periodic table.

Helium, #"He"#, has the electron configuration

#"He: " 1s^2#

This means that you have

#"Li"^(+): ["He"]#

Here the notation #["He"]# is meant to represent the electron configuration of helium.

Related questions
See all questions in Electron Configuration
Impact of this question
123618 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License