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Exercises · 4.1

Q.Write down the electronic configuration of:

(i) Cr3+Cr^{3+}
(ii) Pm3+Pm^{3+}
(iii) Cu+Cu^+
(iv) Ce4+Ce^{4+}
(v) Co2+Co^{2+}
(vi) Lu2+Lu^{2+}
(vii) Mn2+Mn^{2+}
(viii) Th4+Th^{4+}
Dnh Dd CbseNCERTSubjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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The key idea is to first write the ground-state configuration of the neutral atom, then remove electrons from the outermost shells (highest nn, then highest ll within that nn) to form the cation. The final configurations are: (i) [Ar]3d3[Ar]3d^3,

(ii) [Xe]4f4[Xe]4f^4,

(iii) [Ar]3d10[Ar]3d^{10},

(iv) [Xe]4f0[Xe]4f^0,

(v) [Ar]3d7[Ar]3d^7,

(vi) [Xe]4f145d1[Xe]4f^{14}5d^1,

(vii) [Ar]3d5[Ar]3d^5,

(viii) [Rn][Rn].

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 nn first. If two orbitals share the same nn, remove from the one with the higher azimuthal quantum number ll (i.e., pp before ss, dd before pp, etc.). This is because orbitals with higher nn are farther from the nucleus and less tightly bound.

For transition metals and lanthanides/actinides, this means that the nsns electrons (where nn is the period number) are lost before the (n−1)d(n-1)d or (n−2)f(n-2)f electrons. Let’s apply this step by step.


1. Cr3+Cr^{3+}

Neutral Cr (Z=24) has configuration: [Ar]3d54s1[Ar] 3d^5 4s^1.

Why 3d54s13d^5 4s^1 and not 3d44s23d^4 4s^2? Because a half-filled dd subshell (d5d^5) is extra stable — this is an exception you must remember.

To form Cr3+Cr^{3+}, remove 3 electrons. Start with the highest nn: the 4s4s electron goes first. That gives [Ar]3d5[Ar] 3d^5. Then remove two more from the 3d3d subshell (since n=3n=3 is now the highest). 3d53d^5 minus 2 electrons = 3d33d^3.

Watch out

Do not remove 4s4s electrons last. Many students write [Ar]3d24s1[Ar]3d^2 4s^1 for Cr3+Cr^{3+}, which is incorrect. The 4s4s orbital is higher in energy than 3d3d once the atom is ionized.

Answer: [Ar]3d3[Ar] 3d^3


2. Pm3+Pm^{3+}

Promethium (Pm, Z=61) is a lanthanide. Neutral configuration: [Xe]4f56s2[Xe] 4f^5 6s^2.

Lanthanides fill the 4f4f subshell after 6s6s. For Pm3+Pm^{3+}, remove 3 electrons. Highest nn is 6: remove both 6s6s electrons first. Then remove one more from the 4f4f subshell (next highest nn is 4). 4f54f^5 minus 1 = 4f44f^4.

Answer: [Xe]4f4[Xe] 4f^4


3. Cu+Cu^+

Copper (Cu, Z=29) neutral: [Ar]3d104s1[Ar] 3d^{10} 4s^1 (another exception — full dd subshell is stable).

Remove 1 electron. Highest nn is 4: remove the 4s4s electron. That leaves [Ar]3d10[Ar] 3d^{10}.

Tip

Cu+Cu^+ has a completely filled dd subshell (d10d^{10}), which is very stable. This is why copper(I) compounds are common.

Answer: [Ar]3d10[Ar] 3d^{10}


4. Ce4+Ce^{4+}

Cerium (Ce, Z=58) neutral: [Xe]4f15d16s2[Xe] 4f^1 5d^1 6s^2 (NCERT Table 4.9's form; the alternative 4f26s24f^2 6s^2 is sometimes quoted in the literature).

Remove 4 electrons. First, remove both 6s6s electrons, then the 5d5d electron, then the single 4f4f electron. So the configuration is just the noble gas core [Xe][Xe].

Answer: [Xe][Xe]


5. Co2+Co^{2+}

Cobalt (Co, Z=27) neutral: [Ar]3d74s2[Ar] 3d^7 4s^2.

Remove 2 electrons. Highest nn is 4: remove both 4s4s electrons. That leaves [Ar]3d7[Ar] 3d^7.

Answer: [Ar]3d7[Ar] 3d^7


6. Lu2+Lu^{2+}

Lutetium (Lu, Z=71) neutral: [Xe]4f145d16s2[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^1 6s^2.

Remove 2 electrons. Highest nn is 6: remove both 6s6s electrons. That leaves [Xe]4f145d1[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^1.

Note

Lu is the last lanthanide; its 4f4f subshell is full (4f144f^{14}). The 5d5d electron is present because after 4f144f^{14}, the next electron goes into 5d5d (not 4f4f).

Answer: [Xe]4f145d1[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^1


7. Mn2+Mn^{2+}

Manganese (Mn, Z=25) neutral: [Ar]3d54s2[Ar] 3d^5 4s^2.

Remove 2 electrons. Highest nn is 4: remove both 4s4s electrons. That leaves [Ar]3d5[Ar] 3d^5.

Tip

Mn2+Mn^{2+} has a half-filled dd subshell (d5d^5), which gives it extra stability. This is why manganese(II) is a common oxidation state.

Answer: [Ar]3d5[Ar] 3d^5


8. Th4+Th^{4+}

Thorium (Th, Z=90) is an actinide. Neutral: [Rn]6d27s2[Rn] 6d^2 7s^2.

Remove 4 electrons. Highest nn is 7: remove both 7s7s electrons. Then remove two from 6d6d: 6d26d^2 minus 2 = 6d06d^0. So the configuration is just [Rn][Rn].

Answer: [Rn][Rn]


✓Final answer

The configurations are: (i) [Ar]3d3[Ar]3d^3,

(ii) [Xe]4f4[Xe]4f^4,

(iii) [Ar]3d10[Ar]3d^{10},

(iv) [Xe][Xe],

(v) [Ar]3d7[Ar]3d^7,

(vi) [Xe]4f145d1[Xe]4f^{14}5d^1,

(vii) [Ar]3d5[Ar]3d^5,

(viii) [Rn][Rn].

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