Write the electron configuration of #"Cd"^(2+)#?

1 Answer
Nov 4, 2015

#1s^2# #2s^2# #2p^6# #3s^2# #3p^6# #4s^2# #3d^"10"# #4p^6# #4d^"10"#

or

[Kr] #4d^"10"#

Explanation:

The atomic number of cadmium, #Cd#, is 48. Thus, the ground state electron configuration of this element is

#1s^2# #2s^2# #2p^6# #3s^2# #3p^6# #4s^2# #3d^"10"# #4p^6# #5s^2# #4d^"10"#

or

[#Kr#] #4d^"10"# #5s^2#

But since the problem is draw the electron configuration of the #Cd^"2+"#, this means that the element lost #2 e^-#.

Thus, the electron configuration of #Cd^"2+"# is

#1s^2# #2s^2# #2p^6# #3s^2# #3p^6# #4s^2# #3d^"10"# #4p^6# #4d^"10"#