Question

What is the distribution of electrons in carbon and sodium atoms?

Answer 1

Hint: As we know that electron configuration of an element describes how electrons are distributed in its atomic orbitals. So to attempt this question, we must know the concept of electronic configuration and also the atomic numbers of carbon and sodium atoms.

Complete answer:
Let us discuss about the electronic configuration followed by the distribution of electrons in carbon and sodium atom as follows:-
-Electronic configuration: This is a notation that describes how electrons are distributed in its atomic orbitals. This configuration follows a standard notation in which all atomic sub shells containing electrons are placed in a sequence with the electrons distributed in them as the superscript.
-Electron distribution in the carbon atom:-
The atomic number of carbon atoms (denoted as C) is 6 and it belongs to group 14. Hence its electronic configuration can be written as follows:-
C = $1{{s}^{2}},2{{s}^{2}},2{{p}^{2}}$
Here 2 electrons are filled in the very first sub shell that is 1s which can only accommodate 2 electrons. The next 2 electrons are placed in another s subshell which will also accommodate the same number of electrons. The left electrons will be placed in a 2p subshell.
-Electron distribution in the sodium atom:-
The atomic number of sodium atoms (denoted as Na) is 11 and it belongs to group 1. Hence its electronic configuration can be written as follows:-
Na = $1{{s}^{2}},2{{s}^{2}},2{{p}^{6}},3{{s}^{1}}$
Here 2 electrons are filled in the very first sub shell that is 1s which can only accommodate 2 electrons. The next 2 electrons are placed in another s subshell which will also accommodate the same number of electrons. Now 6 electrons will be filled in p subshell which can accommodate the same. Then the last 1 electron will be placed in 3s subshell.
-Hence the distribution of electrons in carbon atom = $1{{s}^{2}},2{{s}^{2}},2{{p}^{2}}$and the distribution of electrons in sodium atom = $1{{s}^{2}},2{{s}^{2}},2{{p}^{6}},3{{s}^{1}}$.

Note:
Remember that the standard notation seems to be lengthy electron configurations (mostly in case of elements that have relatively large atomic numbers). Therefore in these cases, an abbreviated notation can be used instead of the standard notation where the sequence of completely filled subshells that correspond to the electronic configuration of the nearby noble gas is replaced with the symbol of the same nearby noble gas in square brackets.