The element having the electronic configuration `1s^(2) 2s^(2) 2p^(6) 3s^(2) 3p^(2)` is :

Options

A. a metal
B. a nonmetal
C. a noble gas
D. a metalloid

Explanation

To determine the element with the electronic configuration `1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p²`, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Analyze the Electronic Configuration
The given electronic configuration is `1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p²`. This notation indicates how many electrons are present in each subshell.

### Step 2: Count the Total Number of Electrons
To find the total number of electrons, we add the superscripts of the electronic configuration:
- 1s²: 2 electrons
- 2s²: 2 electrons
- 2p⁶: 6 electrons
- 3s²: 2 electrons
- 3p²: 2 electrons

Total = 2 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 2 = 14 electrons.

### Step 3: Identify the Element
The total number of electrons corresponds to the atomic number of the element. An atomic number of 14 indicates that the element is Silicon (Si).

### Step 4: Determine the Properties of Silicon
Silicon is a metalloid, which means it has properties that are intermediate between metals and non-metals. It is known for being a good semiconductor.

### Conclusion
The element with the electronic configuration `1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p²` is Silicon (Si), which is a metalloid.

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