An analytical chemist determines that a divalent transition metal cation, $X^{2+}$, has a ground-state electron configuration ending in $3d^6$. To deduce the chemical behavior of element $X$, the chemist reconstructs the electron configuration of the neutral ground-state atom. Which statement correctly describes this neutral atom in its ground state?

A) It has a total of 10 electrons in the $n = 3$ principal energy level.

B) It possesses 2 unpaired electrons in its ground-state configuration.

C) Its highest occupied principal energy level contains 8 electrons.

D) It contains a total of 8 electrons occupying $s$ orbitals.

Electron configurations Transitional Reasoning Download PDF

Chemistry · Atomic Structure · Chemistry · Electrons in Atoms

1 Chemistry practice questions on Electron configurations. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.

Atomic Structure · Chemistry

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