Question

Which element has an electronic configuration of $$1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^2$$?

Answer 1

The key to deciphering the configuration is to look at the superscripts of each subshell given in the configuration. The superscript on each subshell gives the number of electrons present in that particular subshell.

To add up all the electrons, we have $$2+2+6+2+2=14$$ electrons.

Now, the element with $$14$$ electrons is the element with an atomic number of $$14$$. From the periodic table, the element with atomic number $$14$$ is silicon.

Therefore, silicon $$(_{14}Si)$$ is the element with an electronic configuration of $$1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^2$$.