Neon's Outermost Orbital Properties

Steps:

• Neon has atomic number 10, so its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶.
• The outermost electrons occupy the 2p orbital.
• The 2p orbital has higher energy than the occupied 1s and 2s orbitals due to increasing principal quantum number and subshell.
• The 2p orbital shape is dumbbell (two lobes).

Why A is correct:

• Row A matches the 2p orbital's higher energy relative to inner orbitals and dumbbell shape, per Aufbau principle and quantum mechanics orbital definitions.

Why the others are wrong:

• B incorrectly pairs higher energy with spherical shape, which fits s orbitals, not p.
• C wrongly states lower energy, as 2p is outermost and higher than 1s/2s.
• D combines lower energy with incorrect shape for neon's outermost orbital.

Final answer: A