Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electron Configuration
Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. It follows the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons fill lower-energy orbitals first, and is typically represented using the notation of subshells (s, p, d, f). Understanding electron configurations is essential for predicting an element's chemical behavior and reactivity.
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Transition Metals
Cobalt (Co) is a transition metal, which are elements found in the d-block of the periodic table. Transition metals are characterized by their ability to form variable oxidation states and complex ions due to the involvement of d electrons in bonding. This property is crucial for understanding the electron configurations of cobalt in its different ionic forms.
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Oxidation States
Oxidation states indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound, reflecting the number of electrons lost, gained, or shared. For cobalt, the oxidation states of +2 and +3 correspond to the loss of two and three electrons, respectively. This affects the electron configuration, as the removal of electrons typically occurs from the outermost orbitals, influencing the chemical properties of the ion.
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