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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: micah on October 15, 2008, 04:28:36 PM

Title: Radium Electron Configuration
Post by: micah on October 15, 2008, 04:28:36 PM
Can someone please give me an example of how to do the Radium electron configuration, as I have a test tomorrow and I'm having trouble working with the latter portions of electron configuration. (Like: 5f, etc) Thanks!  ;D (BTW I'm a grade 11 chemistry student)

Edit: So far

1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p6


..Then, I have no clue what to do next..help please.
Title: Re: Radium Electron Configuration
Post by: Astrokel on October 16, 2008, 12:47:27 AM
hey, radium has 88 electrons and that next step you have to determine which orbitals has lower energy when it is unfilled

1s,2s,2p,3s,3p,4s,3d,4p,5s,4d,5p,6s,4f,5d,6p,7s....  <-- first step

and next you start filling in the electrons

1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f145d106p67s2

Check your number of electrons and lastly rearrange the orbitals in order. all the 1's comes first follow by 2's....
this is to ensure you will not make mistake if you are removing electrons from orbital. if you are very sure which orbials has lower energy when unfilled, you could practically skip first step.

alternatively you could write [Rn]7s2 much easier...

good luck to your test!!
Title: Re: Radium Electron Configuration
Post by: micah on October 16, 2008, 05:28:07 PM
thanks for your help, I get it now. :)