Chemical Bonds 3.13

[Semi Yoon]

For each of the following ground-state atoms, what is the type of orbital from which an electron will need to be removed to form the +1 ions: (a) Zn; (b) Cl; (c) Al; (d) Cu?

[juliefilice 4A]

The electron configuration for each of these atoms is listed on the periodic table. So for (a) Zn, the electron configuration is [Ar] 3d10 4s2. To form a +1 ion, an electron will be taken from the outermost shell, which we get from the electron configuration. For Zn, an electron would be removed from the 4s orbital because that is the valence shell.