Question

Write the electron configuration for the highest-energy occupied sublevel of scandium (Sc). electron configuration:

Answer 1

The highest-energy occupied sublevel of scandium (Sc) is the 3d sublevel, holding one electron with a complete electron configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p¶ 3s² 3p¶ 4s² 3d¹.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron configuration for the highest-energy occupied sublevel of scandium (Sc) can be found by following the standard rules for filling orbitals based on their energy levels. Scandium has 21 electrons. To write the complete electron configuration for Scandium, we start from the lowest energy level and move to higher ones: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and 4s, before filling the 3d orbitals. As per the Aufbau principle, the 4s orbital is filled before the 3d orbitals:

1s² 2s² 2p¶ 3s² 3p¶ 4s² 3d¹.

This shows that the highest-energy occupied sublevel for scandium is the 3d sublevel, which starts to fill after the 4s is complete with two electrons. Therefore, the final electron in scandium goes into the 3d sublevel, making the configuration for the highest-energy occupied sublevel 3d¹.

Answer 2

4s^2

Step-by-step explanation:

Scandium is the first member of the first transition series having an atomic number of 21.

The ground state electron configuration of scandium is:;

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s2.

We can see from the electron configuration written above that the highest occupied energy sublevel for scandium is the 4s level having two electrons.