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Which shows the electron configuration of an atom of a transition metal? A [Ar] 4s²3d⁹ B [Ar] 4s²3d⁸ C [Ar] 4s²3d¹⁰ D [Ar] 4s²3d¹⁴p¹ - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 17 - 2020 - Paper 3
Question 17
![Which-shows-the-electron-configuration-of-an-atom-of-a-transition-metal?--A--[Ar]--4s²3d⁹--B--[Ar]--4s²3d⁸--C--[Ar]--4s²3d¹⁰--D--[Ar]--4s²3d¹⁴p¹-AQA-A-Level Chemistry-Question 17-2020-Paper 3.png](https://cdn.simplestudy.cloud/assets/backend/uploads/question/Question_17_2020_Chemistry_P3.jpg)
Which shows the electron configuration of an atom of a transition metal? A [Ar] 4s²3d⁹ B [Ar] 4s²3d⁸ C [Ar] 4s²3d¹⁰ D [Ar] 4s²3d¹⁴p¹
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which shows the electron configuration of an atom of a transition metal? A [Ar] 4s²3d⁹ B [Ar] 4s²3d⁸ C [Ar] 4s²3d¹⁰ D [Ar] 4s²3d¹⁴p¹ - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 17 - 2020 - Paper 3
Step 1
B [Ar] 4s²3d⁸
Answer
The electron configuration of a transition metal typically involves filling the 3d subshell after the 4s subshell. In this case, for the configuration to be that of a transition metal, we look for configurations that have the 3d subshell partially filled.
Option B, which presents the configuration [Ar] 4s²3d⁸, indicates that there are 8 electrons in the 3d subshell, making it a transition metal configuration. Other options either overfill the 3d subshell or start filling the 4p subshell, which is not characteristic of a transition metal.