Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

10. Periodic Properties of the Elements

The Electron Configurations: Exceptions

General Chemistry

10. Periodic Properties of the Elements

The Electron Configurations: Exceptions

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct electron configuration of gold?

Electron configuration of gold: [Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d⁹

Electron configuration of gold: [Ar] 5s¹ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰

Electron configuration of gold: [Xe] 6s¹ 5d¹⁰

Electron configuration of gold: [Xe] 6s¹ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰

Electron configuration of gold: [Xe] 6s¹ 4f¹⁵ 5d¹⁰

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Verified step by step guidance

Identify the atomic number of gold, which is 79. This means gold has 79 electrons in its neutral state.

Recall the order of filling of electron orbitals according to the Aufbau principle, which is based on increasing energy levels: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p.

Use the noble gas shorthand notation to simplify the electron configuration. The noble gas preceding gold is xenon (Xe), which has an atomic number of 54. This accounts for the first 54 electrons.

Continue filling the orbitals from xenon: 6s, 4f, and 5d. The 6s orbital is filled first with 2 electrons, then the 4f orbital is filled with 14 electrons, and finally, the 5d orbital is filled.

Recognize that gold has a unique electron configuration due to relativistic effects and electron-electron interactions, resulting in a filled 5d orbital and a single electron in the 6s orbital, leading to the configuration: [Xe] 4f^14 5d^10 6s^1.