Write the electron configuration (s, p, etc.) of a zinc atom in its ground state. - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question 1(a) - 2013

The atomic number of zinc (Zn) is 30, meaning it has 30 electrons. The electron configuration can be written as:

$1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^{10} 4s^2$

This shows that zinc fills up the orbitals in the order of energy levels, according to the Aufbau principle. The full configuration indicates that the 3d subshell is filled before the 4s, consistent with observed configurations.