What is the principal quantum number for the outermost electron in a sodium atom

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Question: What is the principal quantum number for the outermost electron in a sodium atom?

Options:

Correct Answer: 3

Solution:

The outermost electron in sodium (Na) is in the 3s orbital, which corresponds to a principal quantum number of n=3.

What is the principal quantum number for the outermost electron in a sodium atom?

What is the principal quantum number for the outermost electron in a sodium atom?

Step 1: Identify the atomic number of sodium (Na), which is 11.
Step 2: Understand that the atomic number tells us the number of electrons in a neutral sodium atom, which is also 11.
Step 3: Write the electron configuration for sodium: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹.
Step 4: Look at the highest energy level in the electron configuration, which is 3s.
Step 5: Determine the principal quantum number (n) for the outermost electron, which is in the 3s orbital.
Step 6: Conclude that the principal quantum number for the outermost electron in sodium is n=3.

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