Question
What electron sublevel starts to fill after completion of the
sublevel?
Ask by Lawson Gibson. in the United States
Jan 22,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
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:
- 1s
- 2s
- 2p
- 3s
- 3p
- 4s
- 3d
- 4p
- 5s
- 4d
- 5p
- 6s
- 4f
- 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!