What is the value of the principal quantum number (n) for the outermost electron

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Question: What is the value of the principal quantum number (n) for the outermost electron in a potassium atom?

Options:

Correct Answer: 3

Solution:

Potassium (K) has an atomic number of 19, and its electron configuration ends in 4s, so the outermost electron has n=4.

What is the value of the principal quantum number (n) for the outermost electron in a potassium atom?

What is the value of the principal quantum number (n) for the outermost electron in a potassium atom?

Step 1: Identify the atomic number of potassium (K). The atomic number is 19.
Step 2: Understand that the atomic number tells us the total number of electrons in a neutral atom of potassium.
Step 3: Write the electron configuration for potassium. The configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹.
Step 4: Look at the last part of the electron configuration, which is 4s¹. This indicates the outermost electron.
Step 5: Determine the principal quantum number (n) from the outermost electron's shell. The '4' in '4s' indicates that n = 4.

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