Question

Give two examples (i.e. list 2 elements that are examples) of: a. an atom with a half-filled subshell b. an atom with a completely filled outer shell c. an atom with its outer electrons occupying a half-filled subshell and a filled subshell

Answer 1

Answer:

an atom with a half-filled subshell - hydrogen

an atom with a completely filled outer shell - argon

an atom with its outer electrons occupying a half-filled subshell and a filled subshell- copper

Explanation:

The outermost shell or the valence shell of the atom is the last shell in the atom. Chemical reactions occur at this outer most shell. The number of electrons on the outermost shell of an atom determines the group to which it belongs in the periodic table as well as its chemical properties.

Hydrogen has a half filled 1s sublevel. Only one electron is present in this sublevel.

Let us consider argon

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

The outermost ns and np levels are completely filled. Thus the outermost shell is completely filled.

In the last case; let us look at the electronic configuration of nitrogen;

1s2 2s2 2p3

The outermost 2p subshell is exactly half filled while the 2s sublevel is fully filled. The outermost shell of nitrogen is made up of 2s2 and 2p3 sublevels.