Draw orbital-filling diagrams for the following atoms. Show each electron as an up or down arrow, and use the abbreviation of the preceding noble gas to represent inner-shell electrons. (a) Rb (b) W (c) Ge (d) Zr

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the atomic number of each element to determine the total number of electrons. Rb (Rubidium) has an atomic number of 37, W (Tungsten) has 74, Ge (Germanium) has 32, and Zr (Zirconium) has 40.

Step 2: Use the noble gas abbreviation to represent inner-shell electrons. For Rb, use [Kr] (Krypton); for W, use [Xe] (Xenon); for Ge, use [Ar] (Argon); and for Zr, use [Kr] (Krypton).

Step 3: Determine the electron configuration for each element starting from the noble gas core. For example, Rb: [Kr] 5s^1, W: [Xe] 6s^2 4f^14 5d^4, Ge: [Ar] 4s^2 3d^10 4p^2, Zr: [Kr] 5s^2 4d^2.

Step 4: Draw the orbital-filling diagram for each element. Use boxes to represent orbitals and arrows to represent electrons. Fill orbitals according to Hund's rule and the Pauli exclusion principle.

Step 5: Ensure that each orbital is filled correctly with up and down arrows, indicating the spin of electrons. For example, in the 5s orbital of Rb, draw one arrow pointing up.

Key Concepts

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

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. It follows the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to the highest. Understanding electron configuration is essential for predicting chemical behavior and reactivity, as it determines how atoms interact with one another.

Orbital Diagrams

Orbital diagrams visually represent the arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals. Each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons, which are depicted as arrows pointing up (↑) and down (↓) to indicate their spin. These diagrams help illustrate the Pauli exclusion principle and Hund's rule, which govern how electrons occupy orbitals.

Noble Gas Notation

Noble gas notation is a shorthand method for writing electron configurations by using the symbol of the nearest preceding noble gas to represent inner-shell electrons. This notation simplifies the representation of electron configurations, making it easier to focus on the valence electrons, which are crucial for understanding an atom's chemical properties and bonding behavior.