Neutral manganese ( ) has the ground configuration

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics · Many-electron atoms and the periodic table · Many-electron atoms and the periodic table

Deriving the Spectrum, Ch The central field and the periodic table

Problem

Neutral manganese (Z=25Z=25) has the ground configuration [Ar]3d54s2[\mathrm{Ar}]3d^54s^2. Someone argues: "Electrons fill 4s4s before 3d3d, so the two 3d3d electrons were added after the 4s4s pair. Removing electrons to form Mn2+\mathrm{Mn}^{2+} should therefore take them from the subshell filled last, 3d3d, giving Mn2+=[Ar]3d34s2\mathrm{Mn}^{2+} = [\mathrm{Ar}]3d^34s^2." ((a)) Say exactly where this reasoning goes wrong. ((b)) Give the correct ground configuration of Mn2+\mathrm{Mn}^{2+}.

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