Q.Write down the electronic configuration of:
The key idea is to first write the ground-state configuration of the neutral atom, then remove electrons from the outermost shells (highest , then highest within that ) to form the cation. The final configurations are: (i) ,
(ii) ,
(iii) ,
(iv) ,
(v) ,
(vi) ,
(vii) ,
(viii) .
When writing electronic configurations for ions, the most common mistake is to remove electrons from the last filled subshell in the neutral atom. That is wrong. The correct rule: electrons are removed from the orbital with the highest principal quantum number first. If two orbitals share the same , remove from the one with the higher azimuthal quantum number (i.e., before , before , etc.). This is because orbitals with higher are farther from the nucleus and less tightly bound.
For transition metals and lanthanides/actinides, this means that the electrons (where is the period number) are lost before the or electrons. Let’s apply this step by step.
1.
Neutral Cr (Z=24) has configuration: .
Why and not ? Because a half-filled subshell () is extra stable — this is an exception you must remember.
To form , remove 3 electrons. Start with the highest : the electron goes first. That gives . Then remove two more from the subshell (since is now the highest). minus 2 electrons = .
Do not remove electrons last. Many students write for , which is incorrect. The orbital is higher in energy than once the atom is ionized.
Answer:
2.
Promethium (Pm, Z=61) is a lanthanide. Neutral configuration: .
Lanthanides fill the subshell after . For , remove 3 electrons. Highest is 6: remove both electrons first. Then remove one more from the subshell (next highest is 4). minus 1 = .
Answer:
3.
Copper (Cu, Z=29) neutral: (another exception — full subshell is stable).
Remove 1 electron. Highest is 4: remove the electron. That leaves .
has a completely filled subshell (), which is very stable. This is why copper(I) compounds are common.
Answer:
4.
Cerium (Ce, Z=58) neutral: (NCERT Table 4.9's form; the alternative is sometimes quoted in the literature).
Remove 4 electrons. First, remove both electrons, then the electron, then the single electron. So the configuration is just the noble gas core .
Answer:
5.
Cobalt (Co, Z=27) neutral: .
Remove 2 electrons. Highest is 4: remove both electrons. That leaves .
Answer:
6.
Lutetium (Lu, Z=71) neutral: .
Remove 2 electrons. Highest is 6: remove both electrons. That leaves .
Lu is the last lanthanide; its subshell is full (). The electron is present because after , the next electron goes into (not ).
Answer:
7.
Manganese (Mn, Z=25) neutral: .
Remove 2 electrons. Highest is 4: remove both electrons. That leaves .
has a half-filled subshell (), which gives it extra stability. This is why manganese(II) is a common oxidation state.
Answer:
8.
Thorium (Th, Z=90) is an actinide. Neutral: .
Remove 4 electrons. Highest is 7: remove both electrons. Then remove two from : minus 2 = . So the configuration is just .
Answer:
The configurations are: (i) ,
(ii) ,
(iii) ,
(iv) ,
(v) ,
(vi) ,
(vii) ,
(viii) .
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