It has been suggested that heating of NaCl in a flame might follow these steps. NaCl(s) NaCl(g)
NaCl (g) → Na(g) + Cl(g)
Na (g) → Na*(g)
Na*(g) → Na(g) + hv (strong yellow line is near 589/590 nm) Na represents an atom of sodium in its ground state, and Na* an atom of sodium in an excited state. The (s) means solid and (g) means gas. The ground-state electron configuration for Na(g) is [Ne]3s' and the electron configuration for Na*(g) is [Ne]3p'.

(a) As the ground-state electron configuration for Na(g) is [Ne]3s', write the ground
electron configuration for Li(g). (1 mark)

(b) From the preceding information and with your answer to Question 2 in mind, the red light emitted by the flame that you observed when LiCl was heated was likely due to
(i) what process (0.5 mark)