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What electron sublevel starts to fill after completion of the sublevel?

Ask by Lawson Gibson. in the United States
Jan 22,2025

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Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

After the 4f sublevel is filled, electrons begin to occupy the 5d sublevel.

Solution

After the sublevel is completely filled, the next electron sublevel to begin filling is the sublevel.

Understanding the Order of Electron Filling

Electron orbitals fill in a specific order based on their energy levels, which is generally determined by the Aufbau principle. The order is primarily based on the increasing values of , where:
  • is the principal quantum number.
  • is the azimuthal quantum number.
For orbitals with the same value, the orbital with the lower principal quantum number fills first.
Here’s a simplified order of orbital filling up to the sublevel:
  1. 1s
  2. 2s
  3. 2p
  4. 3s
  5. 3p
  6. 4s
  7. 3d
  8. 4p
  9. 5s
  10. 4d
  11. 5p
  12. 6s
  13. 4f
  14. 5d

Example: Lutetium (Lu)

Lutetium, which has an atomic number of 71, has the electron configuration:
This shows that after the sublevel is filled, electrons begin to occupy the sublevel.

Summary

  • After : The next sublevel to fill is .
Answer: After the 4f sublevel is filled, electrons begin to occupy the five d (5d) sublevel.

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Beyond the Answer

After the completion of the sublevel, the sublevel begins to fill. In the context of the periodic table, this filling marks the transition from the lanthanides to the actinides, where elements like Protactinium (Pa) begin to showcase their unique properties due to the filling of the 5s and subsequent 5p, 6d, and 7s sublevels.
Interestingly, this progressive filling of electron sublevels is not just a neat little tidbit—it’s a critical part of understanding the behavior of various elements! The electrons can significantly influence an element’s reactivity and bonding capabilities. If you’ve ever wondered why certain metals behave differently, consider how those sublevels come into play!

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