Question

The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^2$. what is the number of unpaired electrons in this atom?

Answer 1

Electronic configuration

• The distribution of electrons into orbitals of an atom is called its electronic configuration.

Number of unpaired electrons in the neutral atom

• The electronic configuration of a particular neutral atom is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^2$. So, the element is Silicon$\left(\mathrm{Si}\right)$.
• The number of electrons is shown as follows:-

• From the above arrangement of electrons into orbitals, it is clear that there are $2$ unpaired electrons in Silicon.

So, the number of unpaired electrons in the given atom is $\mathbf{2}$.