The electron configuration of an atom tells us how many electrons are in each orbital

The electron configuration of an atom tells us how many electrons are in each orbital. For example, helium has two electrons in the 1s orbital. Therefore the electron configuration of He is 1s^2. What is the ground-state electron configuration of a neutral atom of cobalt?

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

The ground-state electron configuration of a neutral atom of cobalt (Co), which has an atomic number of 27, can be written as:

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁷ 4s²

Explanation:

The electron configuration of an atom describes the distribution of electrons among the orbitals in the atom. The number of electrons in a neutral atom equals its atomic number, which for cobalt is 27. This means a neutral cobalt atom has 27 electrons.

The electron configuration follows the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund’s rule to determine how electrons are arranged in the various orbitals:

1. 1s²: The first two electrons fill the 1s orbital, which is the closest orbital to the nucleus.
2. 2s² 2p⁶: The next two electrons fill the 2s orbital, followed by six electrons filling the 2p orbital.
3. 3s² 3p⁶: The next two electrons fill the 3s orbital, and six electrons fill the 3p orbital.
4. 3d⁷: The remaining seven electrons are placed in the 3d orbitals. Since the 3d orbitals are higher in energy than the 4s orbital but lower than the 4p orbital, they fill after the 4s orbitals.
5. 4s²: The final two electrons fill the 4s orbital, which is the highest energy orbital in the ground state.

So, the electron configuration of cobalt follows this sequence of filling orbitals according to increasing energy levels, starting from the lowest (1s) to the highest (4s and 3d orbitals). This configuration ensures that all 27 electrons are placed in the available orbitals, maintaining the stability of the atom.

Let me generate a visual representation of this electron configuration.

Here is the visual representation of the electron configuration for a neutral atom of cobalt (Co). It shows how the electrons are arranged in the various orbitals, from the 1s orbital to the 4s and 3d orbitals. Let me know if you need further clarification!