Molybdenum (Z = 42) has several oxidation states.

1) Write the electronic configuration of Mo knowing it has half-filled valence orbitals.

2) Give a set of quantum numbers for an electron on the outermost shell of Mo.

3) The most stable oxidation states of Mo are +4 and +6. Give the corresponding ions and their electronic configuration

Question

Molybdenum (Z = 42) has several oxidation states.

1) Write the electronic configuration of Mo knowing it has half-filled valence orbitals.

2) Give a set of quantum numbers for an electron on the outermost shell of Mo.

3) The most stable oxidation states of Mo are +4 and +6. Give the corresponding ions and their electronic configuration

| General Chemistry 1

Accepted Answer

1) Mo: Z = 42 ⇒ 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶5s¹4d⁵

2) outermost shell of Mo ⇒ n = 5 ⇒ 5s

5s: n = 5, l = 0, m_l = 0, m_s = + or – ½

3) +4 ⇒ Mo⁴⁺ ⇒ 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶4d²

+6 ⇒ Mo⁶⁺ ⇒ 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶

Midterm 2 - Question 5 | General Chemistry 1