What are the four quantum numbers for the last electron in #Fe^(3+)?

1 Answer
Sep 14, 2017

For iron, #Z=26#.......

Explanation:

And so we would write the following electronic configuration with respect to the atom....

#1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)4s^(2)3d^(6)#

But upon oxidation.......we gets #Fe^(3+)#, and the standard electronic configuration is.....
#{1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)3d^(5)}^(3+)#

So the last electron is from one of the (degenerate!) #"d-orbitals...."#

And thus...........

#n=3; l=2 "(i.e. we have d-orbitals with 2 nodal planes)";m_l=-2,-1,0,1,or2; m_s=+-1/2#