What element is represented by the configuration [Xe] 6s^2 4f^14 5d^8?

The electron configuration [Xe] 6s^2 4f^14 5d^8 indicates that the element has a total of 80 electrons. The notation starts with [Xe], which represents the electron configuration of xenon, containing 54 electrons. Then, 6s^2 contributes 2 electrons, and 4f^14 contributes another 14 electrons, leading to a total of 70 electrons so far. The 5d^8 contributes an additional 8 electrons, summing up to 78 electrons. However, when considering an error in categorization, the closest match in terms of electron configuration is indeed reflective of platinum.

Platinum is located in group 10 of the periodic table and corresponds with a similar but distinct electron configuration, generally observed in transition metals. In summary, the specific configuration of [Xe] 6s^2 4f^14 5d^8 indeed represents platinum (Pt), which is characterized by its placement in the d-block, confirming the importance of understanding electron shell filling and the configuration in relation to the periodic table.