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View Full Version : When an atom loses an electron


pop000
Mar 19, 2011, 09:49 AM
If atom from the following list loses an electron and become ion +1
From what kind of orbit (for example 4f,3d,2p,1s) the electron are came out?

The list is:
Zn
Cl
Al
Cu
I think in Zn is will be from 3d
In Cl is will be 3p
In Al 3p
And Cu is will be 4s

Do I correct?
Many thanks. :)
Thanks

DrBob1
Mar 19, 2011, 03:44 PM
I think these are all correct except for the first one: Zn. Zinc has all its orbitals filled, ending with 4s2, 3d10; if it were to lose a d electron the shell would be 9/10 full -- not favorable. So it will lose one of the s electrons to leave that orbital half-filled -- much more favorable. (Of course it loses the remaining 4s elecgtron as well to become the familiar Zn+2 ion.) All this relates to your last element, Copper. As the element, it has already promoted a 4s electron to the 3d orbital so that it has a filled d orbital and a half filled s orbital (4s1, 3d10). That's why it can lose just one electron and become the Cu+ ion.

pop000
Mar 19, 2011, 11:26 PM
Yes truth I wrote by mistake 3d instead 4s.

Thank you very much for your answer.