Exercise 3 | Ionic Bonds and Compounds

Manganese (Z = 25) can form 3 different cations. One of them is Mn4+.

Write the electronic configuration of Mn.

From this electronic configuration, determine the two other possible ions of Mn and their electronic configuration.

Ground state configuration of neutral atom: 4s < 3d

Mn: Z = 25 ⇒ 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d5


Ground state configuration of transition metal ions: 3d < 4s
First, we remove electrons from the orbital 4s ⇒ 2 electrons ⇒ Mn2+

Mn2+: 1s22s22p63s23p63d5
 

Then, we remove electrons from the orbital 3d ⇒ 5 electrons (+ 2 from 4s) ⇒ Mn7+

Mn7+: 1s22s22p63s23p6