Question

The electronic configuration of three elements X, Y and Z are given below:

X: 2

Y: 2, 6

Z: 2, 8, 2

i. Which element belongs to the second period?

ii. Which element belongs to the second group?

Answer 1

i. The element which has two electron shells in its atom should belong to the second period. In this case, the element Y has two electron shells (with electronic configuration 2,6). Therefore element Y belongs to second period.

ii. The element which has 2 valence electrons in its outermost shell belongs to the second group. Here the element Z has 2 valence electrons in its outermost shell. Therefore element Z belongs to second group.