Use the periodic table to write an electron configuration for each element. Represent core electrons with the symbol of the previous noble gas in brackets. a. P b. Ge c. I

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the atomic number of the element. The atomic number of Ge (Germanium) is 32. This number tells us the number of protons and, in a neutral atom, the number of electrons.
2. Step 2: Identify the previous noble gas. The noble gas that precedes Ge in the periodic table is Ar (Argon) with an atomic number of 18. This means that the first 18 electrons of Ge will have the same configuration as Ar.
3. Step 3: Write the electron configuration for the remaining electrons. After Argon, the next 14 electrons fill the 4th period, starting with the 4s, 3d, and 4p orbitals. The 4s and 3d orbitals can hold up to 2 and 10 electrons respectively, and the 4p orbital can hold up to 6 electrons.
4. Step 4: Count the electrons to ensure they add up to the atomic number of Ge. The electron configuration of Ar accounts for 18 electrons, the 4s orbital accounts for 2 electrons, the 3d orbital accounts for 10 electrons, and the 4p orbital accounts for 2 electrons. Adding these together gives a total of 32 electrons, which matches the atomic number of Ge.
5. Step 5: Write the final electron configuration. The electron configuration of Ge is represented as [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p².

Key Concepts

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. It is typically written in a specific format that indicates the energy levels and sublevels occupied by electrons. For example, the configuration for an element can be expressed as a series of numbers and letters, such as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶, which shows how many electrons are in each subshell.

Noble Gas Notation

Noble gas notation is a shorthand method for writing electron configurations by using the symbol of the nearest preceding noble gas to represent core electrons. This simplifies the notation by allowing chemists to focus on the valence electrons, which are crucial for understanding chemical reactivity. For instance, the electron configuration for germanium (Ge) can be written as [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p², where [Ar] represents the core electrons.

Periodic Table and Element Properties

The periodic table organizes elements based on their atomic number and electron configurations, revealing trends in element properties. Elements in the same group often exhibit similar chemical behaviors due to their valence electron configurations. Understanding the periodic table is essential for predicting how elements will interact and bond with one another, which is fundamental in chemistry.