a. Find potassium (K) in the periodic table and predict how many valence electrons it has.
b. What orbital does the unpaired electron occupy?

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Locate potassium (K) on the periodic table. Potassium is in Group 1 (alkali metals) and Period 4.

Determine the number of valence electrons for potassium. Elements in Group 1 have 1 valence electron because they have one electron in their outermost shell.

Write the electron configuration for potassium. Potassium has an atomic number of 19, so its electron configuration is:

s^{1}

for the outermost shell.

Identify the orbital where the unpaired electron resides. The unpaired electron in potassium occupies the 4s orbital, as the electron configuration ends with

{4s}^{1}

Conclude that potassium has 1 valence electron, and its unpaired electron is in the 4s orbital.

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주요 개념

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Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are crucial for determining how an element will react chemically. For potassium (K), which is in group 1 of the periodic table, it has one valence electron. This single electron is responsible for potassium's reactivity and its tendency to lose this electron to form positive ions.

Periodic Table Groups

The periodic table is organized into groups (columns) that share similar chemical properties. Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons, which influences their reactivity. Potassium is in group 1, indicating it has one valence electron, which is characteristic of alkali metals.

Electron Orbitals

Electron orbitals are regions around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are likely to be found. The unpaired electron in potassium occupies the 4s orbital, as potassium has an electron configuration of [Ar] 4s¹. This orbital designation helps explain the element's chemical behavior and bonding characteristics.

a. Find potassium (K) in the periodic table and predict how many valence electrons it has. b. What orbital does the unpaired electron occupy?