What is the noble gas configuration for boron?
Answer: The noble gas configuration for boron is [He] 2s2 2p1.
Explanation: The noble gas configuration represents the electron configuration of an element by referencing the nearest noble gas element that precedes it in the periodic table.
For boron (B), which has an atomic number of 5, the noble gas preceding it is helium (He) with an electron configuration of 1s2.
Boron’s electron configuration is then completed by adding the configuration of the subsequent energy levels and subshells: 2s2 2p1.
Significance: Expressing boron’s electron configuration in noble gas notation simplifies the representation of its electron arrangement by using the stable noble gas configuration as a starting point.
This notation is commonly used to show the core electron arrangement while highlighting the valence electrons responsible for chemical bonding.