What is the electron configuration of the gallium ion?

2 Answers
Mrs. Goldcamp
Jun 8, 2016

The electron configuration for Gallium, Ga is
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^10 4s^2 4p^1

Explanation:

Gallium, Ga has 31 protons and 31 electrons. The superscripts represent the electrons present in each region of the periodic table.
The sum of these superscripts should equal the atomic number for a neutral atom. The last electron is in the 4th period, in the p region and the first electron in that region.

Ernest Z.
Jul 5, 2016

The most common electron configuration for the gallium ion, "Ga"^(3+) is
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^10 or ["Ar"] 3d^10.

Explanation:

Gallium is in Group 13. It has 31 electrons.

Its electron configuration is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^10 4s^2 4p

We form cations by removing electrons first from the outermost p orbitals, followed by the s orbital and finally the d orbitals (if any more electrons need to be removed).

The options for "Ga" would be to remove

  • the 4p electron and form "Ga"^+
  • the 4p electron and both 4s electrons and form "Ga"^(3+).

By far the most common ion of Group 13 metals is +3.

So. the most common gallium ion is "Ga"^(3+), and its electron configuration is ["Ar"] 3d^10.

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