Cd 2+

[deleted647690]

Why does Cd lose two electrons from its 5s orbital before losing any electrons from its 4d orbital? I thought the order of removal of electrons was the reverse order in which they were filled...therefore I would think that since 4d was filled after 5s, 4d electrons would be taken first.

Is it just more favorable because a partially filled d orbital would be less stable than completely losing an s orbital? What is the general trend for removal of electrons from orbitals?

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[deleted647690]

Nevermind I think I got it. You remove from highest principal energy n level, not in the same order as filling

 

[aldol16]

Good. You answered your own question.

 

[deleted647690]

Good. You answered your own question.

I actually have another question for you about molecular shape. Does a molecule having a charge have an effect on its shape? I know that lone pairs would have an effect, but for a molecule like FeCl6 ^-3, I see that it is octahedral based on the 6 attachments, but how exactly does the addition of 3 electrons change that?

 

[aldol16]

I actually have another question for you about molecular shape. Does a molecule having a charge have an effect on its shape? I know that lone pairs would have an effect, but for a molecule like FeCl6 ^-3, I see that it is octahedral based on the 6 attachments, but how exactly does the addition of 3 electrons change that?

It doesn't change it. It's still octahedral.

 

[deleted647690]

It doesn't change it. It's still octahedral.

Ah, for some reason I didn't recognize that

Thank you