Ni2+ Electron Configuration

[trishaaah]

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Doing a question from TBR, I came across an answer that says "Nickel dication (Ni2+) has the electronic configuration ls22s22p63s23p63d8."

Is nickel special? I was under the impression that it always goes 1S, 2S, 2P, 3S, 3P, 4S, 3D, 4P, so on... So why here was it not 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d6?

Thank you!

 

[UCFMD]

The electrons will leave the s orbital first. Its an ion and it has lost two electrons. Rather than take those from the d orbital, they'll first take them from the s because its easier.

 

[trishaaah]

Ohh, that totally makes sense! Thank you! The explanation to the answer definitely did not make that clear!