To determine which element an electron configuration represents, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the Electron Configuration: We are given the electron configuration [tex]\( 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2 \)[/tex].
2. Calculate the Total Number of Electrons:
- The first term, [tex]\( 1s^2 \)[/tex], means there are 2 electrons in the 1s orbital.
- The second term, [tex]\( 2s^2 \)[/tex], means there are 2 electrons in the 2s orbital.
- The third term, [tex]\( 2p^2 \)[/tex], means there are 2 electrons in the 2p orbital.
By adding these numbers together, we get:
[tex]\[
2 (from \, 1s^2) + 2 (from \, 2s^2) + 2 (from \, 2p^2) = 6 \, electrons
\][/tex]
3. Determine the Atomic Number:
The total number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to its atomic number. Therefore, with 6 electrons, the atomic number is 6.
4. Identify the Element:
Using the periodic table, the element with atomic number 6 is Carbon (C).
So, the electron configuration [tex]\( 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2 \)[/tex] represents the element Carbon (C).
