http://molybdenuminfo.com/2008/09/09/what-is-the-ground-state-electron-configuration-for-molybdenum/ Answering your molybdenum questions Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:31:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://molybdenuminfo.com/2008/09/09/what-is-the-ground-state-electron-configuration-for-molybdenum/#comment-21 David W Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:27:10 +0000 http://molybdenuminfo.com/?p=22#comment-21 It's simpler than you think. The d-orbitals can carry a total of 10 electrons, and there are 5 d-orbitals, right? So an atom has a lower energy state and therefore greater stability when it has five 1/2-filled d-orbitals instead and a half-filled s-orbital, as opposed to 4 electrons in the d-orbitals and 2 in the s-orbital. The same goes for Chromium (right above Molydenum), and the group containing Gold, Silver and Copper. Therefore, Mb is actually [Kr]5s1, 4d5. This is a trick question that you will see in chemistry classes time and again. It’s simpler than you think. The d-orbitals can carry a total of 10 electrons, and there are 5 d-orbitals, right? So an atom has a lower energy state and therefore greater stability when it has five 1/2-filled d-orbitals instead and a half-filled s-orbital, as opposed to 4 electrons in the d-orbitals and 2 in the s-orbital. The same goes for Chromium (right above Molydenum), and the group containing Gold, Silver and Copper. Therefore, Mb is actually [Kr]5s1, 4d5. This is a trick question that you will see in chemistry classes time and again.

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