What is its noble gas configuration for silicon, Si?
A. [Ne] 3s^2 3p^4
B. [Ne] 3s^2
C. [Ne] 3s^2 3p^1
D. [Ne] 3s^2 3p^2
Answer (1)
Determine the electron configuration of silicon: 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 2 3 p 2 .
Identify the preceding noble gas: Neon (Ne) with electron configuration 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 .
Express silicon's configuration using Neon's: [ N e ] 3 s 2 3 p 2 .
The noble gas configuration for silicon is: [ N e ] 3 s 2 3 p 2 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We want to determine the noble gas configuration for silicon (Si). First, we need to know the electron configuration of silicon. Silicon has an atomic number of 14, meaning it has 14 electrons.
Electron Configuration of Silicon The electron configuration of silicon is 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 2 3 p 2 .
Noble Gas Preceding Silicon The noble gas that precedes silicon in the periodic table is Neon (Ne), which has an atomic number of 10. The electron configuration of Neon is 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 .
Noble Gas Configuration of Silicon We can express the electron configuration of silicon using the noble gas configuration. Since Neon has the configuration 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 , we can replace this part of silicon's electron configuration with [Ne]. Therefore, the noble gas configuration for silicon is [ N e ] 3 s 2 3 p 2 .
Final Answer The correct noble gas configuration for silicon (Si) is [ N e ] 3 s 2 3 p 2 .
Examples
Understanding electron configurations helps predict how elements will interact to form chemical bonds. For example, knowing silicon's electron configuration allows us to understand how it forms bonds in semiconductors, which are essential components in electronic devices like computers and smartphones. The arrangement of electrons determines the chemical properties of silicon and its ability to conduct electricity under certain conditions. This knowledge is crucial in materials science and engineering for designing new materials with specific properties.
