Question

Which choice contains a possible set of quantum numbers (n, l, ml, ms) for the first electron removed from a ground-state vanadium atom?
(1) 4, 0, 0, +½ (2) 4, 1, 0, –½ (3) 3, 2, 0, +½ (4) 3, 1, 1, +½ (5) 4, 2, 2, –½

Answer 1

@Photon336

Answer 2

Ground state is the lowest possible energy level for vanadium

Answer 3

Yeah so ik the electron configuration is (Ar) 4s1 3d3

Answer 4

\[[Ar] 3d^{3}4s^{2}\]

Answer 5

The answer is A so thats why im confused

Answer 6

okay I found a great explanation I was between A and C

"The 4s sublevel is only lower in energy if there are no electrons in the 3d sublevel. According to the Aufbau principle, the 4s sublevel is filled before the 3d sublevel because the 4s is lower in energy. As the 3d sublevel becomes populated with electrons, the relative energies of the 4s and 3d fluctuate relative to one another and the 4s ends up higher in energy as the 3d sublevel fills. This is why when electrons are lost from the orbitals of the transition metals, they are lost from the 4s first because it is higher in energy".

Answer 7

So Translation: the 4s is lower in energy than 3d if there aren't any electrons in 3d. and naturally would be filled first due to the aufbau principle.

so as electrons are added, the 4s orbital becomes higher in energy than the 3d orbital. and when electrons are lost, they are lost from the 4s orbital first, in transition metals.

Answer 8

Okay that makes sense but how does that explain l=0, and ml=0

Answer 9

Well if we look at an S orbital

there is only one orientation mL = 0

and L = 0, the shape is a sphere.


so if L = 0

mL can go from -L to +L

Answer 10

I get it thank you!

Answer 11

No problem