Natural electron configuration

II. Even N-Electron Configurations Are Not Mother Nature s True Energy States... 

Thorium [7440-29-1], a naturally occurring radioactive element, atomic number 90, atomic mass 232.0381, is the second element of the actinide ( f) series (see Actinides AND transactinides Radioisotopes). Discovered in 1828 in a Norwegian mineral, thorium was first isolated in its oxide form. For the light actinide elements in the first half of the. series, there is a small energy difference between and 5/ 6d7 electronic configurations. Atomic spectra... 

The unique nature of the electronic configuration of copper, which contributes to its high electrical and heat conductivity, also provides chemical properties intermediate between transition and 18-sheU elements. Copper can give up the 4s electron to form the copper(I) ion [17493-86-6] or release an additional electron from the >d orbitals to form the copper(Il) ion [15158-11-9]. 

The alkali metals form a homogeneous group of extremely reactive elements which illustrate well the similarities and trends to be expected from the periodic classification, as discussed in Chapter 2. Their physical and chemical properties are readily interpreted in terms of their simple electronic configuration, ns, and for this reason they have been extensively studied by the full range of experimental and theoretical techniques. Compounds of sodium and potassium have been known from ancient times and both elements are essential for animal life. They are also major items of trade, commerce and chemical industry. Lithium was first recognized as a separate element at the beginning of the nineteenth eentury but did not assume major industrial importance until about 40 y ago. Rubidium and caesium are of considerable academic interest but so far have few industrial applications. Francium, the elusive element 87, has only fleeting existence in nature due to its very short radioactive half-life, and this delayed its discovery until 1939. 

All the elements have stable electronic configurations (Is or ns np ) and, under normal circumstances are colourless, odourless and tasteless monatomic gases. The non-polar, spherical nature of the atoms which this implies, leads to physical properties which vary regularly with atomic number. The only interatomic interactions are weak van der Waals forces. These increase in magnitude as the polarizabilities of the atoms increase and the ionization energies decrease, the effect of both factors therefore being to increase the interactions as the sizes of the atoms increase. This is shown most directly by the enthalpy of vaporization, which is a measure of the energy required to overcome the... 

Nature plays a masquerade and behaves as if electron configurations most frequently are meaningful. They are traxologically valid. We do not know why. 

What Do We Need to Know Already This chapter assumes that we know about atomic structure and electron configurations (Chapter 1), the basic features of energy, and the nature of the Coulomb interaction between charges (Section A). It is also helpful to be familiar with the nomenclature of compounds (Section D) and oxidation numbers (Section K). 

When using the eighteen electron rule, we need to remember that square-planar complexes of centers are associated with a 16 electron configuration in the valence shell. If each ligand in a square-planar complex of a metal ion is a two-electron donor, the 16 electron configuration is a natural consequence. The interconversion of 16-electron and 18-electron complexes is the basis for the mode of action of many organometallic catalysts. One of the key steps is the reaction of a 16 electron complex (which is coordinatively unsaturated) with a two electron donor substrate to give an 18-electron complex. 

The noble gases are the only elements that exist naturally as individual atoms. Electron configurations make it clear why noble gas atoms prefer to remain as single atoms. Each noble gas has a filled shell configuration 1 for He and for the others. All electrons are paired, and there are no vacant... 

The quality of the ) states has been tested through their energy and also their transition moment. Moreover from the natural orbitals and Mulliken populations analysis, we have determined the predominant electronic configuration of each ) state and its Rydberg character. Such an analysis is particularly interesting since it explains the contribution of each ) to the calculation of the static or dynamic polarizability it allows a better understanding in the case of the CO molecule the difficulty of the calculation and the wide range of published values for the parallel component while the computation of the perpendicular component is easier. In effect in the case of CO ... 

The periodic table orders the elements in a way that helps chemists understand why atoms behave as they do. What makes fluorine react violently with cesium while its nearest neighbor neon is reluctant to react with anything In other words, what gives the elements their properties and what order lies below the surface of their seemingly random nature Scientists know now that the periodicity of the elements is due largely to recurring patterns in their electron configurations. 

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