What is the electron configuration of iron 3+?

1 Answer
Jul 14, 2018

Follow the #"Aufbau scheme"#...

Explanation:

For iron, #Z=26#..

And so for atomic ion we gots…

#underbrace(1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)4s^(2)3d^6)_"electronic configuration of atomic iron"#

And for #Fe^(2+)#...we have TWO ELECTRONS LESS.... As is typical for the transition metal series, these are conceived to be #"s-shell"# rather than #"d-shell"#.

#Fe^(2+):underbrace(1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)3d^6)_"electronic configuration of ferrous ion"#

You are going to have to read your text for a fuller understanding of why we insist that the #"s-shell"# electrons are removed first...

And so what is the electronic configuration of #"ferric ion"#, #Fe^(3+)#?