To determine which outer electron configurations could belong to a metalloid, it's important to understand some key characteristics of metalloids:
Metalloids generally have properties intermediate between those of metals and non-metals. In terms of electron configurations, they typically have both s and p orbitals partially filled with electrons.
Let's analyze each configuration:
1. [tex]\( n s^2 n p^4 \)[/tex]
- This configuration shows that the s orbital is fully filled with 2 electrons ([tex]\( n s^2 \)[/tex]), and the p orbital is partially filled with 4 electrons ([tex]\( n p^4 \)[/tex]).
- This partially filled p orbital suggests that this configuration could belong to a metalloid.
2. [tex]\( n s^2 \)[/tex]
- This configuration indicates that only the s orbital is fully filled, while the p orbital is completely empty (no electrons in the p orbital).
- This is not characteristic of metalloids since they usually have some electrons in the p orbital.
3. [tex]\( n s^2 n p^2 \)[/tex]
- This configuration shows that the s orbital is fully filled with 2 electrons ([tex]\( n s^2 \)[/tex]), and the p orbital is partially filled with 2 electrons ([tex]\( n p^2 \)[/tex]).
- The partial filling of the p orbital means this configuration could belong to a metalloid.
4. [tex]\( n s^2 n p^6 \)[/tex]
- This configuration indicates that both the s orbital and the p orbital are fully filled (2 electrons in s orbital and 6 electrons in p orbital).
- This full filling of orbitals is more characteristic of noble gases rather than metalloids.
Based on this analysis:
- [tex]\( n s^2 n p^4 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( n s^2 n p^2 \)[/tex]
These outer electron configurations could belong to a metalloid.
