Valence Electrons in Transition Metals

[justadream]

Are these statements true?

1)The electrons in the outermost s-orbital and the electrons in the outermost d-orbital are all considered valance electrons.
2) All the electrons described above are considered "reactive" (have potential to undergo reaction with other things)

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[type12]

Are these statements true?

1)The electrons in the outermost s-orbital and the electrons in the outermost d-orbital are all considered valance electrons.
2) All the electrons described above are considered "reactive" (have potential to undergo reaction with other things)

For the MCAT, yes. 🙂 There is only one case the MCAT highlights this: after you have almost half-filled the 3d-orbital, the 4s orbital can make a more stable scenario:

4s^2 3d^4
is NOT the configuration, but:
4s^1 3d^5
is the configuration, because it results in a lower overall energy state for the atom.

There are some d orbitals that have a very close energy level with some s orbitals, so reactively, they are sometimes indistinguishable. However, this varies per period, and the MCAT could not care less.

 

[justadream]

@type12

Let's assume a reaction involves 1 valence electron. The one electron that is "used" will be taken from the s-orbital, correct?