The electron configuration of selenium (Se) is [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁴. This notation indicates the distribution of electrons in the atomic orbitals of a selenium atom.
To break it down:
- [Ar]: This part represents the electron configuration of argon, which is the noble gas preceding selenium in the periodic table. Argon has 18 electrons.
- 4s²: This indicates that there are 2 electrons in the 4s orbital.
- 3d¹⁰: There are 10 electrons in the 3d orbital.
- 4p⁴: This shows that there are 4 electrons in the 4p orbital.
Selenium is in group 16 of the periodic table and has 34 electrons in total. The specific arrangement of these electrons explains its chemical behavior and bonding properties. Understanding electron configurations is fundamental in predicting how elements will react in different chemical situations.