Consider the element with the electron configuration #[Kr]5s^2 4d^7#. What is this element?

1 Answer
Dec 17, 2016

We're talking #"rhodium"#, #Z=45#.

Explanation:

All I have done here is to use #"the Periodic Table"#, a copy of which you will always have available in every exam in chemistry and physics you will ever sit. If you are doing your chemistry homework, there should be a copy in front of you. Can you tell me the other metals in rhodium's group, in the vertical column of the Periodic Table?

Note that the actual electronic configuration is different to the one given in the problem. Neverthless, if there are 45 electrons, the NEUTRAL element must be #"rhodium metal"#.