An element with an electron configuration of #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1# will have properties most similar to which element?

Question

Ellie Andrews · Accepted Answer

sodium (Na)

Given: electron configuration #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1# The periodic table can generally be used to find the electron configuration of an element. There are a few special cases: 1st column, hydrogen + alkali metals: #1s^1# 2nd column, alkaline earth metals: #1s^2# 3rd-12th columns, transition metals: #d^1 -> d^6# 13th-18th columns, Boron - neon: #p^1 -> p^6# Inner transition metals: #f^1 -> f^14# Look at the last set of electrons (valence) in your example: #3s^1# This means the element falls within the column 1: alkali metals. The #3# represents the number of energy levels (periodic table row). This means #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1# = the electron configuration for sodium (Na).

Mateo Aguilar · Answer

undefined An element with an electron configuration of 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1 will have properties most similar to the alkali metal lithium (Li), which also has one valence electron in its outermost shell.

Owen Ambrose · Answer

undefined The element with the electron configuration of 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1 is sodium (Na). Therefore, the element with properties most similar to sodium would be another alkali metal in Group 1 of the periodic table, particularly lithium (Li) or potassium (K).