Scandium ground state electronic configuration

Table 8.3 shows the partial orbital diagrams and ground-state electron configurations for the 18 elements in Period 4 (again with filled inner levels in brackets and the sublevel to which the last electron has been added in colored type). The first two elements of the period, potassium and calcium, are the next alkali and alkaline earth metals, respectively, and their electrons fill the 45 sublevel. The third element, scandium (Z = 21), is the first of the transition elements, those in which d orbitals are being filled. The last electron in scandium occupies any one of the five 3d orbitals because they are equal in energy. Scandium has the electron configuration [Ar] 4s 3d. ... 

The ground state configuration of lanthanides, 4/" l5d 6s2 or 4/"6s2 does not determine the chemical behaviour of these elements. In forming Ln3+ ions, an / electron is removed. Lanthanides differ from transition elements in that 4/ orbitals are shielded and are not available for reactions. Thus lanthanides resemble more closely alkaline earths and the scandium group than transition elements in their chemistry. 

Fig. 3.1. The atomic orbital energies associated with the ground state [Ar]4s 3d and excited state [Ar]4i 3d electron configurations of scandium. [1]...

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