Write the ground-state electron configuration of a lead atom. A)[Xe]4f¹⁴5d⁵6s¹6p⁶7s² B)[Xe]4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6s²6p² C)[Xe]4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6s¹6p³ D)[Xe]4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6p⁴ E)[Xe]4f¹⁴5d⁹6s²6p³

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ground-state electron configuration of lead can be determined by following the Aufbau principle and filling the orbitals in order of increasing energy levels. The electron configuration for lead would be [Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2, as the 4f14 and 5d10 sublevels are filled before the 6s and 6p sublevels. Choice B matches this configuration, so it is the correct answer. The other answer choices have either incorrect sublevels or incorrect numbers of electrons in each sublevel.

Write the Ground-State Electron Configuration of a Lead Atom