Atomic structure

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The electron configuration of an atom in an excited state is given. What is this atom: 1s²2s²2p²3d¹?

Go back the usual order of filling orbitals or sub-shells. 1s²2s²2p² are as normal. But the 2p orbital can hold up to 6 electrons, so the electron which, in the example, appears in the 3d orbital would, in the ground state, be in the 2p level. So the ground state electron configuration would be 1s²2s²2p³ and the atom would be N. A much quicker way is simply to count the total number of electrons which will  be the atomic number of the element.
 
Jenkin

Risk assessment
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updated: 21 August 2003