# Find the Electronic Configuration of an Iron Atom [closed]

I'm confused. Iron has 26 electrons and I wrote down $$\ce{1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6, 4s^2, 3d^6}$$ yet my answer booklet says $$\ce{1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6}$$ but that is only 18. How can it be 18 if $$\ce{Fe}$$ (iron) is 26? What am I doing wrong?

Thank You

## closed as off-topic by Mithoron, Martin - マーチン♦Oct 4 '18 at 18:46

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• I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because the answer summarises in you're right and book wrong. – Mithoron Oct 3 '18 at 20:33
• @Mithoron - I disagree. RTStriker made a huge mistake. "What am I doing wrong? " You believed the book was infallible. ;-) – MaxW Oct 3 '18 at 21:31
• Many books have an erratum list somewhere. You might try to look yours up for other stupid mistakes. – MaxW Oct 3 '18 at 21:33
• @Mithoron I'd leave it open. It's a good example for an acceptable homework question: RTStriker describes their assignment, their own solution AND the reason for their doubts. I don't see, why "your book is wrong" was a valid close reason. – Arsak Oct 4 '18 at 10:22
• @Marzipanherz No, this is example of question, that even if not closed, should get later deleted in "Spring Cleaning" – Mithoron Oct 4 '18 at 13:58