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CAIE A-Level Chemistry 1.4.7 Electronic Configurations from IE Data

Practise using successive ionisation-energy patterns to infer valence electrons and ground-state electron configurations.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Chemistry 9701
Level
AS

Exam points

  • locate the largest jump to determine how many outer-shell electrons are removed before an inner shell
  • combine the inferred group with period information to determine occupied shells
  • write a configuration consistent with both total electron number and the successive-energy pattern

1.4.7—The electronic configurations of elements question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The first seven ionisation energies of an element between lithium and neon in the Periodic Table are shown.

Table for Question 1.4.7—The electronic configurations of elements question 1 — CAIE A-Level Chemistry AS

What is the outer electronic configuration of the element?

A

2 s22 \mathrm{~s}^{2}

B

2s22p12 s^{2} 2 p^{1}

C

2s22p42 s^{2} 2 p^{4}

D

2s22p62 s^{2} 2 p^{6}

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