Question

What is the ground state electron configuration for $Zn$?

Answer 1

We need to remember that the electronic configuration is also known as electronic structure. And it is explained on the basis of arrangement of electrons around the atomic nucleus in the energy level. According to the quantum mechanical model, there are a number of shells and that is K to Q. These shells are again divided into a set of orbitals. Therefore, we can say that the electronic configuration is the arrangement of electrons into the orbital present in an atom. The neutral atom contains a definite number of electrons and that number of electrons is equal to the number of protons which is known as atomic number.

Complete answer:
As we know zinc is a chemical element having the symbol $'Zn'$ with atomic number $30$. Hence, the number of protons present in the neutron is equal to $30$. Therefore, the electronic configuration of zinc can be written as,
$Zn(Z = 30) = 1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^6}3{s^2}3{p^6}3{d^{10}}4{s^2}$
The shell electron number is, $2,8,18,2$.
The zinc is considered a metal and it has silvery greyish in colour. The zinc metal is mainly used to galvanize other metals like iron to stop the rusting. And the zinc metal is also used to make die-castings and also used in hardware and automobile industries.

Note:
We need to know that the electronic configuration of an atom is found on the basis of their atomic number. There are four groups present in the periodic table and that is, s-block, p-block, d-block and f-block. The d-block elements are generally called transition elements. But the zinc is not consider as a d-block element. Because, the zinc does not contain partially filled or incomplete d-subshell. The 3d-subshell of zinc is completely filled. While checking their valence electrons, they are in 3d-subshell. Since the valence electrons are occupied in d-block, the zinc element is considered a d-block element.