Q: The sum of the superscripts in an electron configuration is equal to the number of electrons in that atom, which is in turn equal to what number?


Read this paragraph and choose the correct option from the provided answers:

Electron configuration notation eliminates the boxes and arrows of orbital filling diagrams. Each occupied sublevel designation is written followed by a superscript that is the number of electrons in that sublevel. For example, the hydrogen configuration is 1 s 1 , while the helium configuration is 1 s 2 . Multiple occupied sublevels are written one after another. The electron configuration of lithium is 1 s 2 2 s 1 . The sum of the superscripts in an electron configuration is equal to the number of electrons in that atom, which is in turn equal to its atomic number.

 Choices:

- metallic number

- shell number

- orbital number

- atomic number


A:
atomic number