Question

Element X has an electron configuration of [Ar]4s2 3d10. Which is the most likely formula for the compound of X and oxygen? XO X2O XO2 X2O3

Answer 1

Ans.

The electron configuration of the element X is [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰

The element can lose two electrons from the 4s orbital to form X²⁺. The electron configuration of X²⁺ formed will be [Ar] 4s⁰ 3d¹⁰ which is stable.

The electron configuration of O is [He] 2s² 2p⁴. It can easily gain two electrons to form O^2- which is stable wih fully filled 2p orbital and have the electron configuration [He] 2s² 2p⁶

O receives two electrons in its 2p orbital from 4s orbital of the element X .They are in a 1:1 ratio.

So, the compound formed is XO.