Question

23a identify and label which atom represents fluorine (f) and which atom represents chlorine (cl).

Explanation:

• Fluorine (\(F\)) has an atomic number of \(9\). Its electron - shell configuration is \(2\) electrons in the first shell and \(7\) electrons in the second shell.
• Chlorine (\(Cl\)) has an atomic number of \(17\). Its electron - shell configuration is \(2\) electrons in the first shell, \(8\) electrons in the second shell, and \(7\) electrons in the third shell. By counting the number of electrons (or protons, since in a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons) and analyzing the electron - shell distribution:
• The atom on the left has \(2\) electrons in the first shell and \(7\) electrons in the second shell, which matches the electron - shell configuration of fluorine.
• The atom on the right has \(2\) electrons in the first shell, \(8\) electrons in the second shell, and \(7\) electrons in the third shell, which matches the electron - shell configuration of chlorine.

Answer:

The atom on the left is Fluorine. The atom on the right is Chlorine.