Question

Which one of the following is the correct electronic configuration of sodium?

• A. $2,8$
• B. $8,2,1$
• C. $2,1,8$
• D. $2,8,1$

Answer 1

The correct option is D

$2,8,1$

The explanation for the correct option

(D) $2,8,1$

Electronic configuration

• The electronic configuration of an element is the arrangement of electrons in the atomic orbitals.
• They use the standard notation to arrange atomic sub-shells in ascending order of energy.
• In a KLMN-based electron shell, the electrons may be distributed.
• The first shell or energy level is the K shell; the second is the L shell; the third is the M shell; and so on.

Electronic configuration of sodium

• The chemical element sodium has the symbol $\mathrm{Na}$ and the atomic number $11$.
• Sodium is an alkali metal that belongs to Periodic Group 1 of the periodic table.
• A maximum of two electrons can be filled in the K-shell, eight in the L-shell, and one in the M-shell.
• As a result, Sodium's electrical configuration is $2,8,1$.

The explanation for incorrect options

• The electronic configuration of Sodium is $2,8,1$.
• Hence, all other options (A), (B), and (C) are incorrect.

Therefore, the correct option is (D) $2,8,1$.