Question

please match the electron configuration to the correct element. 2 - 8 - 3 - 1 2 - 8 - 17 - 6 2 - 8 - 18 - 8 oxygen copper phosphorus

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate number of electrons for 2 - 8 - 3 - 1

Add the numbers: $2 + 8+3 + 1=14$. Phosphorus has 15 electrons, oxygen has 8 electrons, and copper has 29 electrons. This configuration does not match any of the given elements correctly.

Step2: Calculate number of electrons for 2 - 8 - 17 - 6

Add the numbers: $2+8 + 17+6=33$. This does not match the electron - counts of oxygen (8), copper (29), or phosphorus (15).

Step3: Calculate number of electrons for 2 - 8 - 18 - 8

Add the numbers: $2+8 + 18+8=36$. This does not match the electron - counts of oxygen (8), copper (29), or phosphorus (15).

Based on the correct electron - configurations:
Oxygen has an electron - configuration of 2 - 6.
Phosphorus has an electron - configuration of 2 - 8 - 5.
Copper has an electron - configuration of 2 - 8 - 18 - 1.

There are no correct matches in the given pairs.

Answer:

None of the given matches are correct.