Question

What is the ground-state electron configuration of a neutral atom of fluorine?

Answer 1

Well, for fluorine, `Z=9`...and so we have to distribute NINE electrons according to the `"Aufbau scheme..."`

Explanation:

And so for ATOMIC fluorine...

`1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^5`....and such a configuration rationalizes why fluorine such a powerful oxidant....the addition of a single gives a complete electronic shell. Elemental fluorine is certainly the most reactive element on the Periodic Table. Of course, when it is used preparatively (and used carefully by specialists), we gots the `F_2` molecule....