Question

F. what is the orbital diagram and the corresponding electron configuration of 26Fe?

Answer 1

Iron has the configuration `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^6 4s^2`

Explanation:

Electron configurations of elements can be a bit confusing, and the transition metals are a case in point.

`""_(26) "Fe"` has the configuration

`1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^6 4s^2`.

A point to be noted :

Note that the 4s orbitals are filled AFTER you add six electrons to the 3d orbitals. The 3d orbitals belong with the n=3 orbitals.

So, you will have

2 electrons in the n=1 (1s) shell,

8 in the n=2 (2s and 2p) shell,

8+6 = 14 in the n=3 (3s, 3p, and 3d) shell,

2 in the n=4 (4s) shell.