Write the ground-state electron configuration for the following element: 
Lead (Z = 82) 

• A. $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4p^65s^24d^{10}5p^66s^24f^{10}5d^{10}6p^6$
• B. $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4p^65s^24d^{10}5p^66s^24f^{14}6p^2$
• C. $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4p^65s^24d^{10}5p^66s^24f^{14}5d^66p^6$
• D. $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4p^65s^24d^{10}5p^66s^24f^{14}5d^{10}6p^2$

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number of lead (Pb), which is 82. This means lead has 82 electrons in its neutral state.
2. Recall the order of electron filling according to the Aufbau principle, which follows the sequence of increasing energy levels: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p.
3. Fill the electron orbitals in the order of increasing energy until you reach a total of 82 electrons. Start with the lowest energy level: 1s², then 2s², 2p⁶, 3s², 3p⁶, 4s², 3d¹⁰, 4p⁶, 5s², 4d¹⁰, 5p⁶, 6s², 4f¹⁴, 5d¹⁰, and finally 6p².
4. Ensure that the total number of electrons in the configuration equals 82, which is the atomic number of lead.
5. Write the complete electron configuration for lead: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p².