Question

What is the electron configuration of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$ ?

Answer 1

Calcium:

• Calcium is an alkaline earth metal having atomic number 20.
• The chemical symbol of Calcium is ‘Ca’

Electronic configuration: The arrangement of electrons into the orbitals of an atom using some fundamental principle is called its electronic configuration.

Electronic configuration of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$

• The electronic configuration for $\mathrm{Ca}$ is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^{6}4{\mathrm{s}}^2$.
• The calcium atom loses two electrons for the formation of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$.
• So, two electrons are removed from the 4s orbital for the formation of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$.
• Hence, the electronic configuration of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^6$.