What is the electron configuration for #Fe_2#?

1 Answer
Jun 16, 2017

The ion #Fe^(2+)# electron configuration is #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^6#

Explanation:

The electron configuration for iron, #Fe# is #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^6 4s^2#

The orbital filling order for #Fe# is #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^6#

Iron does not occur as #Fe_2# in nature. It is not a diatomic element.

The ion #Fe^(2+)# electron configuration is #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^6#.

It is missing the two valence electrons in the #4s^2# orbital. This makes the ion a cation, an ion that is positively charged because it has lost valence electrons.