Destroyer G-chem #131

[Josh779]

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Which is not a possible ground state configuration?
a) a 3d6 sublevel with 6 unpaired electrons
b) a 3d2 sublevel with 2 unpaired electrons
c) a 5d3 sublevel with 3 unpaired electrons
d) a 7s2 sublevel with 0 unpaired electrons
e) all are possible

This is my second time going through the destroyer and every time I think I understand the ground state/electron configuration this problem stumps me. Help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[herkulease]

the easiest solution to this problem is just draw it out it. Plus its good practice anyhow incase they throw you a picture.

draw the specific subshell and fill the orbitals with specified electrons to determine the answer.

remember you have to half fill each orbital 1st before going back and fill the other half. once you do all that you'll see that the answer is A.

A. 3d6
d has 5 orbitals holding max of 10. you have 6 electrons. 1st orbital is orbital is completely full but the other 4 are only half filled. so you have 4 unpaired electrons.

 

[Josh779]

the easiest solution to this problem is just draw it out it. Plus its good practice anyhow incase they throw you a picture.

draw the specific subshell and fill the orbitals with specified electrons to determine the answer.

remember you have to half fill each orbital 1st before going back and fill the other half. once you do all that you'll see that the answer is A.

A. 3d6
d has 5 orbitals holding max of 10. you have 6 electrons. 1st orbital is orbital is completely full but the other 4 are only half filled. so you have 4 unpaired electrons.

OOhhhh I get it! The only way you could get 6 unpaired electrons is if it were 4s1 3d5. So what if the electron config is 4s2 3d4. Does this convert into the Cr exception? Its mainly the exceptions that are making me confused. Thanks for your help.

 

[herkulease]

well if they gave you 4s1, 3d5 yeah you have 6 unpaired electrons.

If it is 4s2 3d4 you'd have 4 unpaired electrons.

the 1st 4 orbitals are half filled.

this applies to exceptions also. As long as you write out the electron configs correctly you should be fine.

 

[Josh779]

well if they gave you 4s1, 3d5 yeah you have 6 unpaired electrons.

If it is 4s2 3d4 you'd have 4 unpaired electrons.

the 1st 4 orbitals are half filled.

this applies to exceptions also. As long as you write out the electron configs correctly you should be fine.

Thanks herkulease, appreciate it.