Chapter 7, Problem 134QP

How many unpaired electrons are in a single atom of phosphorus when in its ground state?

$\begin{array}{l}\begin{array}{l}\text{A}\text{. 0}\hfill \\ \text{B}\text{. 1}\hfill \\ \text{C}\text{. 2}\hfill \\ \text{D}\text{. 3}\hfill \end{array}\\ \text{E}\text{. 5}\end{array}$

For each incorrect answer, identify an element that should have the given number of unpaired electrons in its ground-state electron configuration.