Question

The correct electron configuration for chlorine is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁵ (abbreviated as [Ne]3s²3p⁵). Assess the accuracy and logic of each of the statements below regarding chlorine and select the best choice.

I. Every electron in the 3s and 3p shells of Cl feels about the same nuclear charge.

II. There is space for only one more electron in the 3p orbitals of Cl.

III. Therefore, electrons feel a high attraction to Cl so that Cl has a high electronegativity and electron affinity.

Question 22 options:

	Statement I is false and Statement II is true, therefore Statement III does not follow logically from I and II.
	Statements I and II are true and lead logically to Statement III.
	Statements I and II are true, but Statement III is only partially true.
	All statements are false.

Answer 1

statement 1 and 2 are true and lead logically to statement 3

EXPLANATION FOR STATEMENT 1- As we know that the nuclear charge depends upon principal quantum number (n).

Both 3s and 3p orbital has same value of n i.e. 3. So every electron in 3s and 3p feels the same nuclear charge.

EXPLANATION FOR STATEMENT 2- According to the formula Number of electron that an orbital can accomodate=2(2l+1)

wherel= azimuthal quatum number

so number of electron p orbital can accomodate is 6 (value of l for p orbital is 2). Since 5 electrons are already present in chlorine so only one more electron can accomodate.

EXPLANATION FOR STATEMENT 3- Since we know that full filled electronic configuration are most stable. Since chlorine needs only one electron to attain full filled electronic configuration, So it has high electron affinity.

across the period since nuclear charge increases as number of electron increases but value of n remains same , so chlorine has high tendency to attract the shared electron pair towards itself leading to the high electronegativity.