Give examples of transition metal ions with +3 charge that hav...

Question

Give examples of transition metal ions with +3 charge that have an electron configuration of nd5 (n = 3, 4, 5...).

Accepted Answer

Identify the general electron configuration for transition metals, which is typically written as 
(n-1)d^(1-10) $$ns^2.. $$Understand that the +3 charge indicates the loss of three electrons from the neutral atom. For transition metals, these electrons are usually removed from the s orbital first and then from the d orbital.. Recognize that the electron configuration of nd5 means there are 5 electrons in the d orbital of the nth energy level after the ionization.. Calculate the original electron configuration of the neutral atom before losing electrons. Since three electrons are lost to achieve a +3 charge, the neutral atom would have had 2 additional electrons in the s orbital and 5 in the d orbital, making it $$(n-1)d^5$$ $$ns^2.. $$Identify transition metals that can have this configuration in their neutral state and then form a +3 ion with an nd5 configuration. Examples include: Manganese (Mn), which in its neutral state has the electron configuration [Ar] $$3d^5$$ $$4s^2. $$When it forms $$Mn^3$$+, it loses two 4s electrons and one 3d electron, resulting in [Ar] $$3d^5. $$Another example is Chromium (Cr), which in its neutral state has the electron configuration [Ar] $$3d^5$$ $$4s^1. $$When it forms $$Cr^3$$+, it loses one 4s electron and two 3d electrons, resulting in [Ar] $$3d^3.$$

Give examples of transition metal ions with +3 charge that have an electron configuration of nd5 (n = 3, 4, 5...).

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Transition Metals

Electron Configuration

Oxidation States