How many unpaired electrons are in the following ions? (a) \(\mathrm{Hg}^{2+}\) (b) \(\mathrm{F}^{-}\) (c) \(\mathrm{Sb}^{3+}\) (d) \(\mathrm{Fe}^{3+}\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: (a) Hg2+ ion has 0 unpaired electrons, (b) F- ion has 0 unpaired electrons, (c) Sb3+ ion has 0 unpaired electrons, and (d) Fe3+ ion has 5 unpaired electrons.

Step by step solution

01

(a) Hg2+ ion

Step 1: Find atomic number of Hg Hg (mercury) is in the periodic table with an atomic number of 80. Step 2: Determine electron configuration of the neutral atom The electron configuration of the neutral Hg atom is \(\mathrm{[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^{10} 6s^2}\). Step 3: Electron configuration of the ion For the \(\mathrm{Hg}^{2+}\) ion, we need to remove 2 electrons. They are removed from the highest energy level, which is 6s. So, the electron configuration of the ion is \(\mathrm{[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^{10}}\). Step 4: Count unpaired electrons There are no unpaired electrons in \(\mathrm{Hg}^{2+}\) ion as all the electrons are in fully-filled orbitals.
02

(b) F- ion

Step 1: Find atomic number of F F (fluorine) is in the periodic table with an atomic number of 9. Step 2: Determine electron configuration of the neutral atom The electron configuration of the neutral F atom is \(\mathrm{1s^2 2s^2 2p^5}\). Step 3: Electron configuration of the ion For the \(\mathrm{F}^{-}\) ion, we need to add 1 electron. It will be added to the 2p orbital. So, the electron configuration of the ion is \(\mathrm{1s^2 2s^2 2p^6}\). Step 4: Count unpaired electrons There are no unpaired electrons in \(\mathrm{F}^{-}\) ion as all the electrons are in fully-filled orbitals.
03

(c) Sb3+ ion

Step 1: Find atomic number of Sb Sb (antimony) is in the periodic table with an atomic number of 51. Step 2: Determine electron configuration of the neutral atom The electron configuration of the neutral Sb atom is \(\mathrm{[Kr] 4d^{10} 5s^2 5p^3}\). Step 3: Electron configuration of the ion For the \(\mathrm{Sb}^{3+}\) ion, we need to remove 3 electrons. They are removed first from the 5s orbital, and then from the 5p orbital. So, the electron configuration of the ion is \(\mathrm{[Kr] 4d^{10} 5p^0}\). Step 4: Count unpaired electrons There are no unpaired electrons in \(\mathrm{Sb}^{3+}\) ion as all the electrons are in fully-filled orbitals.
04

(d) Fe3+ ion

Step 1: Find atomic number of Fe Fe (iron) is in the periodic table with an atomic number of 26. Step 2: Determine electron configuration of the neutral atom The electron configuration of the neutral Fe atom is \(\mathrm{[Ar] 3d^6 4s^2}\). Step 3: Electron configuration of the ion For the \(\mathrm{Fe}^{3+}\) ion, we need to remove 3 electrons. They are removed first from the 4s orbital, and then from the 3d orbital since 4s orbital has slightly higher energy level. So, the electron configuration of the ion is \(\mathrm{[Ar] 3d^5}\). Step 4: Count unpaired electrons There are 5 unpaired electrons in \(\mathrm{Fe}^{3+}\) ion as all the electrons are in the 3d orbitals and none of them are fully-filled.

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