What is the correct electron configuration for Xenon (Xe)?

The correct electron configuration for Xenon (Xe) is [Kr] 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶, which aligns with its placement in the periodic table as a noble gas. However, option B, [Xe] 6s², is not a valid representation of Xenon's actual electron configuration.

A more accurate understanding reveals that Xenon has a total of 54 electrons, and to account for them correctly, we look at the complete filling of the electron shells. Starting from a noble gas configuration for Krypton ([Kr]), Xenon has two additional electrons in the 5s subshell, ten electrons in the 4d subshell, and six electrons in the 5p subshell, thus: [Kr] 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶.

If Xenon were to only have the 6s² configuration, it would not account for the full complement of electrons, nor would it represent Xenon's position in the periodic table as an element with a filled p subshell, indicative of the stable noble gas state. The other options presented contain configurations that either exceed the total number of electrons Xenon possesses or misrepresent the specific electrons