Chapter 23: Q23.28P (page 1059)

(a) What is the maximum number of unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion? (b) How does this number relate to the occupancy of the 4f sub-shell?

Short Answer

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a) Most of the lanthanides have ground-state electron configuration [Xe] , so their ions can have maximum of 7 unpaired electrons because the 4f subshell can contain maximum of 14 electrons.

b) The 4f sub-shell contains 7f orbitals, so when there is maximum of 7 unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion, the 4f subshell is half-filled.

Step by step solution

Definition of electrons

An acid is a hydrogen-containing substance capable of transferring a proton (hydrogen ion) to another substance.

A base is a molecule or ion that can accept an acid's hydrogen ion.

Acidic substances are distinguished by their sour flavor.

Subshell contains electron

a) Most of the lanthanides have ground-state electron configuration [Xe] $6 s^{2} 4 f^{x} 5 d^{0}$ , so their ions can have a maximum of 7 unpaired electrons because the subshell can contain a maximum of 14 electrons.

Half-filled sub shell

b) The 4f sub-shell contains f orbital’s, so when there is maximum of 7 unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion, the 4f sub-shell is half-filled.

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(a) What is the maximum number of unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion? (b) How does this number relate to the occupancy of the 4f sub-shell?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of electrons

Subshell contains electron

Half-filled sub shell

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