Q23.28P - Chemistry: Molecular Nature Of Matter And Change

Question

(a) What is the maximum number of unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion? (b) How does this number relate to the occupancy of the 4f sub-shell?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a) Most of the lanthanides have ground-state electron configuration [Xe] , so their ions can have maximum of 7 unpaired electrons because the 4f subshell can contain maximum of 14 electrons.

b) The 4f sub-shell contains 7f orbitals, so when there is maximum of 7 unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion, the 4f subshell is half-filled.

Step 1: Definition of electrons

An acid is a hydrogen-containing substance capable of transferring a proton (hydrogen ion) to another substance. 

A base is a molecule or ion that can accept an acid's hydrogen ion.

Acidic substances are distinguished by their sour flavor.

Step 2: Subshell contains electron

a) Most of the lanthanides have ground-state electron configuration [Xe] $6 {\mathrm{s}}^{2}4{\mathrm{f}}^{x}5 {\mathrm{d}}^0$, so their ions can have a maximum of 7 unpaired electrons because the subshell can contain a maximum of 14 electrons.

Step 3: Half-filled sub shell

b) The 4f sub-shell contains f orbital’s, so when there is maximum of 7 unpaired electrons in a lanthanide ion, the 4f sub-shell is half-filled.