Electron Configuration and Orbital Blocks

The video tutorial explains how to write the electron configuration for cadmium (Cd) and its ion Cd2+. It begins by determining the number of electrons in neutral Cd using its atomic number. Two methods are presented: using a chart and the periodic table. The chart method involves following arrows to fill orbitals, while the periodic table method uses orbital blocks. The video also discusses tweaking the configuration for transition metals and adjusting for the Cd2+ ion by removing two electrons. The tutorial concludes with a summary of the electron configurations for both Cd and Cd2+.

What is the atomic number of cadmium (Cd) and how does it relate to its electron count?

• 48, which is the number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom

• 52, which is the number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom

• 50, which is the number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom

• 46, which is the number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom

Which orbital is filled immediately after the 4s orbital in the electron configuration chart method?

• 3d

• 3p

• 5s

• 4p

How many electrons can the 3d orbital hold according to the chart method?

• 2

• 6

• 10

• 14

What is the advantage of using the periodic table's orbital blocks for electron configuration?

• It is the only method that works for transition metals

• It requires no memorization

• It provides a more meaningful understanding of electron configurations

• It is faster than the chart method

Which orbital block ends with p6 in the periodic table method?

• p block

• d block

• f block

• s block

Why is it more accurate to place the 4s orbital after the 3d orbital for transition metals?

• Because 4s electrons are lost first in chemical reactions

• Because 4s has higher energy than 3d

• Because 4s is filled before 3d

• Because 4s is closer to the nucleus

Which orbitals are typically involved in forming chemical bonds?

• p and f orbitals

• s and d orbitals

• d and f orbitals

• s and p orbitals

What happens to the electron configuration of cadmium when it forms a Cd2+ ion?

• Two electrons are added to the outermost p orbital

• Two electrons are removed from the innermost d orbital

• Two electrons are removed from the outermost s orbital

• Two electrons are added to the configuration

Which electrons are typically lost when cadmium forms a Cd2+ ion?

• The innermost s electrons

• The outermost s electrons

• The outermost p electrons

• The innermost d electrons

What is the charge of a cadmium ion after losing two electrons?

• 0

• 3+

• 2+

• 1+