The electronic configuration of an element is `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^5 4s^1`. This represents its

Options

A. excited state
B. ground state
C. cationic form
D. anionic form.

Answer

To determine what the electronic configuration `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^5 4s^1` represents, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Count the Total Number of Electrons
The electronic configuration given is:
- 1s^2: 2 electrons
- 2s^2: 2 electrons
- 2p^6: 6 electrons
- 3s^2: 2 electrons
- 3p^6: 6 electrons
- 3d^5: 5 electrons
- 4s^1: 1 electron

Now, let's add them up:
\[ 2 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 6 + 5 + 1 = 24 \text{ electrons} \]

### Step 2: Identify the Atomic Number
The total number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to its atomic number. Therefore, the atomic number of the element is 24.

### Step 3: Identify the Element
The element with atomic number 24 is Chromium (Cr).

### Step 4: Determine the State of the Element
The given electronic configuration `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^5 4s^1` corresponds to the ground state of Chromium. In the ground state, electrons occupy the lowest available energy levels.

### Conclusion
Thus, the electronic configuration represents the ground state of Chromium.

### Final Answer
The electronic configuration `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^5 4s^1` represents its **ground state**.

---