Question

An atom has electronic configuration 2 8 4 so what is the atomic number of this element

Answer 1

Electron configuration tells you how the electrons are distributed in the orbitals.

-‘K’ shell can accommodate maximum of 2 electrons.

-Similarly ‘L’, ‘M’ and ’N’ can accommodate maximum electrons of 8, 18 and 32 respectively.

-Here, 2, 8 and 4 configuration means K shell-2 electrons (1s^2), L shell-8 electrons (2s^2 2p^6) and M shell-4 electrons (3s^4). So total no. of electrons is 14.

Answer 2

Atomic no of this element is 14 I.e sulphur