Electron Configuration writing
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Electron Configuration writing
I just have a pretty simple question about the manner in which we write electron configuration. In lectures in was written in order of the periodic table (putting 3d after 4s) but in my discussion, we were told to order it in terms of principal quantum number. Which way is correct?
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Re: Electron Configuration writing
In class I did multiple examples that are in agreement with discussion section.
For example:
Sc: [Ar] 3d1 4s2
In+: [Kr] 4d10 5s2
For example:
Sc: [Ar] 3d1 4s2
In+: [Kr] 4d10 5s2
Re: Electron Configuration writing
Also, when doing problems is everyone writing it like Professor Lavelle did it in class, i.e. for example px1 py1 (where x and y are subscripts) or just p2?
Re: Electron Configuration writing
It depends on the problem. If we're just writing out full electron configurations I tend not to write out all the sub-orbitals. Conceptually, though, it helps to think about the sub-orbitals in order to understand how the orbitals fill and how electrons are paired.
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Re: Electron Configuration writing
Yesterday we were trying to write rhodium’s electron configuration and we got 2 different answers, so then we looked at the lavelle periodic table and clarified which one is correct, so for clarification, is rhodium an exception like cooper and chromium?
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Re: Electron Configuration writing
For the test we will only need to know how to do the electron configurations for period 1-4, so I wouldn't worry about Rhodium! And I believe Copper and Chromium are the only exceptions we need to know about, just keep in mind that they are not the only two exceptions in the entire periodic table :)
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Re: Electron Configuration writing
When dealing with an atom that is an ion for example S^2- is it incorrect to write it in condensed from as [Ar]?
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Re: Electron Configuration writing
I learned in high school that we can fill electron orbitals using the Aufbau principle 2 different ways. One way is you can write electron configurations with the orbitals in order of filling. The other way, which Lavelle wants us to do, is writing electron configurations in order of increasing principal quantum number. This way is where 3d10 is filled before 4s2.
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Re: Electron Configuration writing
Like others have said, putting 3d before 4s in electron configuration will help us understand how orbitals fill up. However, is it wrong if we put 4s before 3d?
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