Homework 3.5

[Yen Ho Chou 1D]

I don't understand why the configuration for Bi would go from 4f to 5d, instead of 5s

[Chem_Mod]

You are correct that 5s would be filled before 5d; however, the [Xe] is an abbreviation for all the orbitals that have already been filled up to Xenon's configuration, which includes the 5s orbital already.

[Yasmin Olvera 1D]

Maybe try writing out the long ground-state to help you understand why that is correct since it will be included in the [Xe}

[jlinwashington1B]

I was wondering the same thing because the s and p orbital is before the d orbital, right??

[David Zhang 1B]

The [Xe] fills in the 5s part. Xe's electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6. The 4f14 5d10 6s2 come after the 5p6 to create the full electron configuration.

[simmoneokamoto3K]

Personally, I have a hardtime doing electron configuration the way the professor teaches us, so I watched this video and it helped make electron configuration easier especially with elements like Bi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFPfg0Como

[Yasmin Olvera 1D]

I was wondering the same thing because the s and p orbital is before the d orbital, right??

Thats what i thought as well! And when I checked the answer I was confused.

[jlinwashington1B]

Right...It's because the 5s orbital had already been filled up In Xenon's configuration.