What is the correct electron configuration for Chlorine?

Chlorine has an atomic number of 17, which means it has 17 electrons in its neutral state. To write the electron configuration for chlorine, we start by filling the electron orbitals according to the aufbau principle, which states that electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest available energy levels to higher ones.

First, we fill the 1s orbital, which can hold 2 electrons, and then the 2s orbital, which also holds 2 electrons. After that, the 2p orbital can hold 6 electrons. So far, we have:

• 1s² (2 electrons)

• 2s² (2 electrons)

• 2p⁶ (6 electrons)

This accounts for 10 electrons. Next, we continue to the 3s orbital and fill it with 2 electrons, followed by the 3p orbital.

• 3s² (2 electrons, totaling 12)

• 3p⁵ (5 electrons, totaling 17)

Thus, the complete electron configuration for chlorine is [Ne] 3s² 3p⁵. The notation [Ne] represents the electron configuration of neon, which consists of 10 electrons, followed by the addition