In April 2010, a research team reported that it had made Element 117. This discovery was confirmed in 2012 by additional experiments. Write the ground-state electron configuration for Element 117 and estimate values for its first ionization energy, electron affinity, atomic size, and common oxidation state based on its position in the periodic table.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the position of Element 117 in the periodic table. Element 117 is in Group 17, which is the halogen group, and is in Period 7.

Step 2: Write the ground-state electron configuration for Element 117. Since it is in Period 7 and Group 17, its electron configuration will end in 7p^5. The full configuration can be written by following the order of filling orbitals up to 7p^5.

Step 3: Estimate the first ionization energy. Elements in Group 17 typically have high ionization energies because they are one electron short of a full p subshell. However, as you move down the group, ionization energy decreases due to increased atomic size and electron shielding.

Step 4: Estimate the electron affinity. Halogens generally have high electron affinities because they tend to gain an electron to achieve a noble gas configuration. However, for heavier halogens like Element 117, the electron affinity might be lower than lighter halogens due to relativistic effects and increased atomic size.

Step 5: Determine the common oxidation state. Halogens typically exhibit a -1 oxidation state as they gain one electron to complete their valence shell. Element 117 is expected to follow this trend, although it might also show other oxidation states due to its position in the periodic table.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. For Element 117, known as Tennessine (Ts), the ground-state electron configuration is [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p5. This notation indicates that Tennessine has a filled 5f subshell, a filled 6d subshell, and is two electrons short of a filled 7p subshell, reflecting its position in the periodic table.

Periodic Trends

Periodic trends refer to predictable patterns in elemental properties as you move across or down the periodic table. For Element 117, trends suggest that its first ionization energy will be relatively low due to its position in Group 17 (halogens), while its atomic size will be larger than that of lighter halogens due to increased electron shielding and energy levels.

Oxidation States

Oxidation states indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound, reflecting its ability to gain or lose electrons. For Tennessine, common oxidation states are expected to be -1, 0, and +1, similar to other halogens, but its heavier atomic mass may lead to unique behavior in chemical reactions, particularly in its +1 state due to relativistic effects.

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Textbook Question

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