Electrons Can Sometimes Fill Orbitals in Manners That Defy Specified

Multiple Choice

Electrons can sometimes fill orbitals in manners that defy specified rules. If they do so, we say that the atom is in an excited state. Which of the following represents the excited state of an atom?

A) 1s²2s²2p_x²
B) 1s²2s¹2p_x¹2p_y¹2p_z¹
C) both 1s²2s²2p_x² and 1s²2s¹2px¹2p_y¹2p_z¹
D) neither 1s²2s²2p_x² nor 1s²2s¹2p_x¹2p_y¹2p_z¹