Which list of transition metals is arranged in the correct order, from lowest to highest number of electrons in the d sublevel?

a. zirconium, rhodium, vanadium, nickel, scandium
b. scandium, vanadium, nickel, zirconium, rhodium
c. rhodium, vanadium, scandium, nickel, zirconium
d. scandium, zirconium, vanadium, nickel, rhodium

Transition metals from lowest to highest number of electrons in the d sublevel : Scandium, Zirconium, Vanadium, Nickel, Rodium

In an atom there are levels of energy in the shell and sub shell

This energy level is expressed in the form of electron configurations.

Writing electron configurations starts from the lowest to the highest sub-shell energy level. There are 4 sub-shells in the shell of an atom, namely s, p, d and f. The maximum number of electrons for each sub shell is

• s: 2 electrons

• p: 6 electrons

• d: 10 electrons and

• f: 14 electrons

Charging electrons in the sub shell uses the following sequence:

1s², 2s², 2p⁶, 3s², 3p⁶, 4s², 3d¹⁰, 4p⁶, 5s², 4d¹⁰, 5p⁶, 6s², etc.

Determination of electron configurations based on principles:

 Hund's Rule, Aufbau's Principle, and Pauli-exclusion principle.

Let's look at each of the electron configurations:

Zirconium: Zr: [Cr] 4d² 5s²: 2 electrons in the d sublevel

Rodium: Rh: Cr 4d⁸ 5s¹: 8 electrons in the d sublevel

Vanadium: V: [Ar] 3d³ 4s²: 3 electrons in the d sublevel

Nickel: Ni: [Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²: 8 electrons in the d sublevel

Scandium: Sc: [Ar] 3d¹ 4s²: 1 electron in the d sublevel

If we look at the number of electrons in the d sublevel above, then the order from lowest to highest:

Scandium, Zirconium, Vanadium, Nickel, Rodium

Learn more

element X

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Identify the group number in the periodic table

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the answer would be c