What is the electronic configuration of a neutral oxygen atom?
Correct Answer: 1s2 2s2 2p4
- Step 1: Understand that a neutral oxygen atom has 8 electrons.
- Step 2: Electrons are arranged in energy levels or shells around the nucleus.
- Step 3: The first energy level can hold a maximum of 2 electrons. So, we fill this level first: 1s2.
- Step 4: The second energy level can hold a maximum of 8 electrons. We fill this level next.
- Step 5: In the second energy level, we fill the 2s sublevel first with 2 electrons: 2s2.
- Step 6: After filling the 2s sublevel, we have 4 electrons left to place in the 2p sublevel.
- Step 7: We fill the 2p sublevel with the remaining 4 electrons: 2p4.
- Step 8: Combine all the filled sublevels to write the complete electronic configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p4.
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