Textbook Question
Look at the location in the periodic table of elements A, B, C, and D. What is the electron configuration of the transition metal in each of the following ions?
(a) A2+
(b) B+
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds
Electron Configurations of Transition Metals: Exceptions
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Provide a condensed electron configuration for Au atom and Au (III) ion.
A
Au: [Xe]6s24f145d9
Au3+: [Xe]6s24f145d6
Au3+: [Xe]6s24f145d6
B
Au: [Xe]6s24f145d10
Au3+: [Xe]4f145d9
Au3+: [Xe]4f145d9
C
Au: [Xe]6s14f145d10
Au3+: [Xe]4f145d8
Au3+: [Xe]4f145d8
D
Au: [Xe]6s14f145d10
Au3+: [Xe]6s14f145d7
Au3+: [Xe]6s14f145d7
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of gold (Au), which is 79. This means a neutral gold atom has 79 electrons.
Write the electron configuration for a neutral Au atom using the Aufbau principle, Hund's rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle. Start from the nearest noble gas configuration, which is xenon (Xe), and then add the remaining electrons: [Xe]4f^14 5d^10 6s^1.
To find the electron configuration for the Au(III) ion, remove three electrons from the neutral Au atom. Electrons are typically removed from the outermost shell first, which is the 6s orbital in this case.
After removing one electron from the 6s orbital, remove the remaining two electrons from the 5d orbital, as it is the next highest energy level. This results in the configuration: [Xe]4f^14 5d^8.
Verify the electron configurations: For Au, the configuration is [Xe]4f^14 5d^10 6s^1, and for Au(III), it is [Xe]4f^14 5d^8. These configurations reflect the correct distribution of electrons for both the neutral atom and the ion.
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