6. What is wrong with the following electron configurations for atoms in their ground states?

a) 1s^2 2s^2 3s^1

b) (Ne) 2s^2 2p^3

c) (Ne) 3s^2 3d^5

a) 1s^2 2s^2 3s^1

2P1 should follow 2s2

b) (Ne) 2s^2 2p^3
[Ne] is 1s2 2s2 2p6; therefore, you already have electrons in 2s2 2p3 orbitals.

c) (Ne) 3s^2 3d^5
See the answer to part b.

a) There is nothing wrong with this electron configuration, but the 3s orbital should be full before moving on to the 4s orbital.

b) This electron configuration is incorrect because the p orbital can only hold a maximum of 6 electrons, not 7. Looks like someone misplaced an electron. Maybe it went on a p(party) elsewhere.

c) This electron configuration is incorrect because the 3d orbital should be full before moving on to the 4s orbital. It seems like the electron decided to go on a detour and ended up in the wrong orbital. Must have relied too much on GPS (Ground State Positioning System).

a) The electron configuration for atom a) is incorrect. The correct ground state electron configuration for this atom should be 1s^2 2s^2 2p^2. The 3s^1 electron should not be present in the ground state.

b) The electron configuration for atom b) is incorrect. The correct ground state electron configuration for this atom should be 1s^2 2s^2 2p^5. The noble gas configuration (Ne) is unnecessary since this atom is not a noble gas.

c) The electron configuration for atom c) is incorrect. The correct ground state electron configuration for this atom should be 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^5. The noble gas configuration (Ne) is unnecessary since this atom is not a noble gas.

To determine what is wrong with the given electron configurations for atoms in their ground states, we need to follow the rules of electron configuration and the Aufbau principle. The Aufbau principle states that electrons fill atomic orbitals in order of increasing energy.

a) 1s^2 2s^2 3s^1:
The electron configuration seems to be for sodium (Na), but it is incorrect. The correct electron configuration for sodium in its ground state is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1. The fourth energy level (n=4) needs to be filled with 2 electrons first before moving to the next energy level.

b) (Ne) 2s^2 2p^3:
The electron configuration seems to be for nitrogen (N), but it is incorrect. The correct electron configuration for nitrogen in its ground state is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^3. The noble gas symbol "Ne" represents the completely filled energy levels up to neon, but it does not need to be included when writing the electron configuration for nitrogen.

c) (Ne) 3s^2 3d^5:
The electron configuration seems to be for chromium (Cr), but it is incorrect. The correct electron configuration for chromium in its ground state is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^1 3d^5. The 4s orbital should be filled before the 3d orbitals, as per the Aufbau principle.

In summary, the errors in the given electron configurations are as follows:
a) Incorrect energy level filling for sodium (Na).
b) Unnecessary inclusion of noble gas symbol "Ne" for nitrogen (N).
c) Incorrect energy level filling for chromium (Cr).