What is the element for the electron configuration [Rn] 7s² 5f¹³?

The electron configuration [Rn] 7s² 5f¹³ indicates the distribution of electrons in an atom, where [Rn] represents the electron configuration of Radon, the noble gas that precedes the element in the periodic table. The notation shows that there are two electrons in the 7s subshell and thirteen electrons in the 5f subshell.

To understand which element corresponds to this configuration, it is essential to recognize the significance of the 5f subshell. The actinides and the transactinides elements have electrons filling the 5f subshell. As we fill the 5f orbitals, the atomic number of the elements increases.

In this case, the element with the electron configuration [Rn] 7s² 5f¹³ has an atomic number of 101, which identifies it as Mendelevium. This element sits in the f-block of the periodic table and is part of the actinides series, where the 5f subshell is being filled with electrons.

Other possible options, such as Nobelium, Einsteinium, and Berkelium, have different electron configurations and atomic numbers, which do not correspond to a 5f subshell filled with