Chapter 6, Problem 55A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The electronic configuration of Neodymium and the block of the periodic table in which it is located needs to be determined.

Concept introduction:

Electronic configuration of an element is the arrangement of elements in different orbitals like s, p, d, f. The filing of the electrons in the orbitals follow the Aufbau Principle.

Answer to Problem 55A

The electronic configuration of Neodymium is as follows:

$\left[\text{Xe}\right]{\text{ 4f}}^{\text{4}}{\text{6s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{or 1s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{3s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{3p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{4s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{3d}}^{\text{1}0}{\text{4p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{5s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{4d}}^{\text{1}0}{\text{5p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{6s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{4f}}^{\text{4}}$

It is located on the f-block.

Explanation of Solution

Aufbau principle should be followed while writing the electronic configuration of element. According to this rule lower energy level are filled first and then the higher energy levels. Atomic number of Neodymium is 60. It is located in the f-block of the periodic table. The electronic configuration of Neodymium is as follows:

$\left[\text{Xe}\right]{\text{ 4f}}^{\text{4}}{\text{6s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{or 1s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{3s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{3p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{4s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{3d}}^{\text{1}0}{\text{4p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{5s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{4d}}^{\text{1}0}{\text{5p}}^{\text{6}}{\text{6s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{4f}}^{\text{4}}$.

Conclusion

Neodymium has electronic configuration1s²2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶6s² 4f⁴ and it is located in the f-block of the periodic table.