According to the aufbau principle, which orbital is filled immediately after each of the following in a multielectron atom?(a) 4s (b) 3d(c) 5f(d) 5p

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Identify the next orbital in the sequence based on the aufbau principle, which states that electrons fill atomic orbitals of the lowest available energy levels before occupying higher levels.

For part (a), after the 4s orbital, the next orbital to be filled is the 3d orbital, as it is the next in energy level after 4s according to the aufbau diagram.

For part (b), following the 3d orbital, the 4p orbital is the next to be filled. This is because, after filling the 3d orbital, the next lowest energy orbital available is 4p.

For part (c), after the 5f orbital, the next orbital to be filled is the 6d orbital. This follows from the pattern that after filling f orbitals, the next d orbitals of the next principal quantum number are filled.

For part (d), the orbital that follows 5p in the filling sequence is the 6s orbital. This is because s orbitals of the next principal quantum number are filled immediately after p orbitals.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Aufbau Principle

The Aufbau principle states that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals first before filling higher energy levels. This principle guides the order in which orbitals are filled in multielectron atoms, ensuring that electrons are added to the most stable configurations available.

Orbital Energy Levels

In multielectron atoms, orbitals have different energy levels based on their shape and the principal quantum number. The order of filling is determined by the relative energies of these orbitals, which can be influenced by electron-electron interactions and the effective nuclear charge experienced by the electrons.

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons among the various orbitals of an atom. It is typically represented using a notation that indicates the energy levels and types of orbitals filled, which is essential for predicting chemical behavior and understanding the structure of the atom.