Question

bronze analysiselectron configurationthe alloy bronze is a mixture of about 10 percent copper and 90 percent tin. although an entire historical period is named after bronze, its uses today are primarily in sculpture, mechanical parts such as bearings, and guitar and piano strings.what is the electron configuration of tin?1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d⁹1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s¹3d¹⁰1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶5s²4d¹⁰5p²1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d²

Explanation:

Tin has an atomic number of 50, meaning it has 50 electrons. Electron configurations follow the Aufbau principle, filling orbitals in order of increasing energy: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p. Summing the exponents in the correct configuration must equal 50.

• The first option sums to 2+2+6+2+6+2+9=29, incorrect.
• The second option sums to 2+2+6+2+6+1+10=29, incorrect.
• The third option sums to 2+2+6+2+6+2+10+6+2+10+2=50, correct.
• The fourth option sums to 2+2+6+2+6+2+2=22, incorrect.

Answer:

1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶5s²4d¹⁰5p²