Introduction
Selenium is a chemical element that has the atomic number 34 in the periodic table. It is a non-metal and belongs to the chalcogen group. Selenium is widely used in various industries including electronics, medicine, and agriculture. In this article, we will discuss the full electron configuration of selenium.
Electron Configuration Basics
Before we dive into the full electron configuration of selenium, it is important to understand some basics. The electron configuration of an element describes how electrons are distributed among its atomic orbitals. The orbitals are arranged in shells and subshells, and each shell and subshell can hold a maximum number of electrons.
The First Shell
The first shell, or the K shell, can hold a maximum of 2 electrons. The electrons fill the 1s orbital. Therefore, the electron configuration of the first shell is 1s2.
The Second Shell
The second shell, or the L shell, can hold a maximum of 8 electrons. The electrons fill the 2s and 2p orbitals. The 2s orbital can hold 2 electrons, while each of the 3 p orbitals can hold 2 electrons. Therefore, the electron configuration of the second shell is 2s2 2p6.
The Third Shell
The third shell, or the M shell, can hold a maximum of 18 electrons. The electrons fill the 3s, 3p, and 3d orbitals. The 3s orbital can hold 2 electrons, while each of the 3 p orbitals can hold 2 electrons. The 3d orbital can hold 10 electrons. Therefore, the electron configuration of the third shell is 3s2 3p6 3d10.
Full Electron Configuration of Selenium
Now that we understand the basics, let’s look at the full electron configuration of selenium. Selenium has 34 electrons, so its electron configuration is: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p4 In this configuration, the first shell has 2 electrons, the second shell has 8 electrons, the third shell has 18 electrons, and the fourth shell has 6 electrons.
Conclusion
In summary, the electron configuration of an element describes how electrons are distributed among its atomic orbitals. Selenium has 34 electrons, and its electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p4. Understanding the electron configuration of an element is essential in understanding its chemical properties and behavior.