d-block electron configurations

[plzNOCarribbean]

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So I found a thread in 09' answering this question partially so please don't get mad. I used the search function.


For the d-block (transition metal) electron configurations, when the neutral transition metal forms a cation, does it ALWAYS lose it's 4s orbitals first?? I want to place a lot of emphasis on the word ALWAYS.

For instance, I know the exceptions Cr and Cu which have 4s1 3d5 and 4-s1 3-d10 lose the 4s electron firms when forming Cr+ and Cu+ respectively, but what if, say, you wanted the e- configuration for Cobal cation (Co=3)

neutral cobalt is [Ar]4s2 3-7

so would Co+3 be [Ar]3d6

Again, do we ALWAYS lose the 4s electrons before we remove any 3d electrons when forming transition metal cations? Thanks!😀

 

[justhanging]

So I found a thread in 09' answering this question partially so please don't get mad. I used the search function.


For the d-block (transition metal) electron configurations, when the neutral transition metal forms a cation, does it ALWAYS lose it's 4s orbitals first?? I want to place a lot of emphasis on the word ALWAYS.

For instance, I know the exceptions Cr and Cu which have 4s1 3d5 and 4-s1 3-d10 lose the 4s electron firms when forming Cr+ and Cu+ respectively, but what if, say, you wanted the e- configuration for Cobal cation (Co=3)

neutral cobalt is [Ar]4s2 3-7

so would Co+3 be [Ar]3d6

Again, do we ALWAYS lose the 4s electrons before we remove any 3d electrons when forming transition metal cations? Thanks!😀

I would say that for all intended purposes yes. If you look at Fe it doesn't have a plus one oxidation state, yet it has the plus 2(losing s electrons) and plus 3(losing s than d). It can lose the d before the s.

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

I would say that for all intended purposes yes. If you look at Fe it doesn't have a plus one oxidation state, yet it has the plus 2(losing s electrons) and plus 3(losing s than d). It can lose the d before the s.

So you always lose the d-electrons FIRST and then the s-electrons whenever a neutral metal is becoming a cation?

^is it safe to follow this rule on all transition metals or are there exceptions to this also for the MCAT that I should know? Thank you for your reply btw

 

[justhanging]

So you always lose the d-electrons FIRST and then the s-electrons whenever a neutral metal is becoming a cation?

^is it safe to follow this rule on all transition metals or are there exceptions to this also for the MCAT that I should know? Thank you for your reply btw

Oops sorry, I meant to say s before d, if it was d before s than Fe would have a plus one oxidation state from the losing of one d electron and it doesn't. I think you could follow that always, unless otherwise stated. I have never heard of any exceptions even in the Pchem2 class which is where they talk about it more in depth.