 |
|
| Science Forum Index » Chemistry Forum » Possible mistake in explanation of electron config?... |
|
Page 1 of 1 |
|
| Author |
Message |
| Albert... |
 Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:55 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Explanation:
The third shell can accommodate a maximum of eighteen electrons,
however, once this shell has eight electrons in it, it is reasonably
stable, and the next two electrons "go into" the fourth shell.
Is it really just the "next two"? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
| Craig... |
| Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:44 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
On Oct 17, 3:55 pm, Albert <albert.xtheunkno... at (no spam) gmail.com> wrote:
[quote:9dbfeaa32d]Explanation:
The third shell can accommodate a maximum of eighteen electrons,
however, once this shell has eight electrons in it, it is reasonably
stable, and the next two electrons "go into" the fourth shell.
Is it really just the "next two"?
[/quote:9dbfeaa32d]
Yes, this is technically correct. After filling the 3s and the 3p
(argon), the next two elements fill the 4s (K, Ca) before filling the
rest of the 3d subshell (1st transition series). Only after the 3d
has been filled do atoms go on to fill the 4p subshell. That
explanation isn't the way I would describe it, but the author does not
seem to have made a mistake.
The thing to realize is that the subshells (s,p,d,f) are not
degenerate (s<p<d<f), in a multi-electron atom. So while 1s<2s<3s<4s
etc., the 3d is enough higher than the 3s that the 4s is actually
below the 3d in energy. I think it is more useful to look separately
at each s,p,d,f subshell, rather than lumping them together with
statements like "the third shell can accommodate 18 electrons."
- Craig |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:23 am
|
|