Which element has the following ground state electron configuration: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4?

• A. Phosphorus (P)
• B. Chlorine (Cl)
• C. Sulfur (S)
• D. Argon (Ar)

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the electron configuration given: \$1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4$.
2. Count the total number of electrons by adding the superscripts: \(2 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 4 = 16\) electrons.
3. Recall that the atomic number of an element equals the number of electrons in its neutral state, so the element has atomic number 16.
4. Use the periodic table to find the element with atomic number 16, which corresponds to Sulfur (S).
5. Confirm that the electron configuration matches Sulfur's ground state configuration, verifying the answer.