What Is The Electron Configuration Of Na2O?
The electron configuration of Na2O can be determined by first finding the electron configuration of sodium (Na), which is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1. Sodium has 11 electrons, so its configuration ends in 3s1, indicating that it has one valence electron in the outermost energy level.
Oxygen (O) has six valence electrons and a configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p4. When it forms a compound with sodium, each sodium atom will transfer one electron to an oxygen atom, resulting in the formation of two Na+ cations and one O2- anion.
Therefore, the electron configuration of Na2O can be written as [Na+]2 [O2-], or more simply as [Ne] 3s2 3p6, reflecting the stable octet configuration of the oxygen atom with eight valence electrons in its outermost energy level.