Question:

Consider the hypothetical situation where the azimuthal quantum number, \(l\), takes values 0, 1, 2, ....., n + 1, where n is the principal quantum number. Then, the element with atomic number :

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With l up to n + 1, the first shell (n = 1) has 1s, 1p and 1d subshells holding 2, 6 and 10 electrons; fill them in order and check each option.
Updated On: Nov 5, 2026
  • 13 has a half-filled valence subshell
  • 9 is the first alkali metal
  • 8 is the first noble gas
  • 6 has a 2p-valence subshell
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

For n = 1, l = 0, 1, 2, so the first shell contains 1s (2 e-), 1p (6 e-) and 1d (10 e-); n = 2 has 2s, 2p, 2d, 2f, and so on.
Filling the lowest shell first: 1s2 (Z = 2), 1p6 (Z = 8), 1d10 (Z = 18), then 2s ...
Z = 13: 1s2 1p6 1d5. The valence subshell 1d (capacity 10) holds 5 electrons, so it is half-filled. (1) is correct.
Z = 9: 1s2 1p6 1d1, valence electron is in d, not s, so it is not an alkali metal.
Z = 8: 1s2 1p6, the 1d subshell is still empty, so it is not a closed-shell noble gas.
Z = 6: 1s2 1p4, the valence subshell is 1p, not 2p.
Answer: (1) 13 has a half-filled valence subshell
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