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Multiple Choice
Which set of four quantum numbers represents the last electron added to the Zn atom according to the Aufbau principle?
A
n=4, l=1, m_l=0, m_s=-1/2
B
n=3, l=2, m_l=2, m_s=-1/2
C
n=4, l=0, m_l=0, m_s=+1/2
D
n=3, l=2, m_l=1, m_s=+1/2
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the electron configuration of a Zn atom. Zinc (Zn) has an atomic number of 30, meaning it has 30 electrons. The electron configuration is: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s².
Determine the last subshell being filled according to the Aufbau principle. The Aufbau principle states that electrons fill orbitals starting at the lowest available energy levels before filling higher levels. For Zn, the last subshell being filled is 3d, as 4s is filled before 3d but 3d is higher in energy.
Identify the quantum numbers for the last electron added. The last electron added to Zn is in the 3d subshell. The quantum numbers for a 3d electron are: n=3 (principal quantum number), l=2 (angular momentum quantum number for d orbitals), m_l can be -2, -1, 0, 1, or 2 (magnetic quantum number), and m_s can be +1/2 or -1/2 (spin quantum number).
Determine the specific set of quantum numbers for the last electron. Since the 3d subshell can hold up to 10 electrons, and Zn has a full 3d subshell, the last electron added will have m_l=1 and m_s=+1/2, as it fills the last available spot in the 3d subshell.
Match the correct set of quantum numbers to the options provided. The correct set of quantum numbers for the last electron added to Zn is n=3, l=2, m_l=1, m_s=+1/2, which matches the given correct answer.