Question

8. Write a ground state electron configuration for each neutral atom. Ground state means that all of the lowest possible energy levels (up to the proper number of electrons for the element) are filled.

a. Na
b. Pb
c. Sr
d. U
e. N
f. Ag
g. Ti
h. Ce
i. Cl
j. Hg

Answer 1

That's a lot! I can do a. for you to help you
Sodium is \[1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^1\]
The s means it's in the spherical s-orbital. The maximum an s-orbital can hold is 2 electrons, hence why it's raised to the two. The p-orbital, a much larger orbital and can hold up to six electrons (+1/2 and -1/2 spin) electrons. Every time that you move onto a row, you move up to a new shell, a new s-orbital and new p-orbital, which is why you see 1, 2, and 3. You can see using the periodic table, where these are.
each letter s, p, and d designate the s, p, and d orbitals! Now, try and work on the rest.