Question

What is the electron configuration for N^3-

Answer 1

[Ne]

Answer 2

How is that right?

Answer 3

On the periodic table the atoms are neutral in terms of electrons and protons, so if an atom is an anion as in N^-3, then you move to the right since it means it has gained 3 more electrons. In the case of N^-3, if you move over three spaces to the right, it'll have the same electron configuration as Ne, which gives N^-3 an electron configuration of [Ne]. You only use the brackets for the noble gases to indicate the electron configuration up to that point.

Answer 4

He is right!