Question

write the complete ground - state electron configuration of mg²⁺. for multi - digit superscripts or coefficients, use each number in succession.

Explanation:

Step1: Determine the atomic number of Mg

The atomic number of Mg (magnesium) is 12. So, a neutral Mg atom has 12 electrons.

Step2: Consider the charge of \(Mg^{2 +}\)

Since \(Mg^{2+}\) has a + 2 charge, it has lost 2 electrons. So, the number of electrons in \(Mg^{2+}\) is \(12 - 2=10\) electrons.

Step3: Write the electron configuration

Using the Aufbau principle (filling electrons in the order of increasing energy of orbitals: \(1s<2s < 2p<3s<3p<4s<3d<4p\) etc.), for 10 electrons:
The first 2 electrons go into the \(1s\) orbital (\(1s^{2}\)), the next 2 into the \(2s\) orbital (\(2s^{2}\)), and the remaining 6 into the \(2p\) orbital (\(2p^{6}\)).

Answer:

\(1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}\)