Write out the electron configurations for (a) potassium and (b) cobalt. how many unpaired electrons does each possess?

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Chemistry

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1 November, 07:40

Write out the electron configurations for (a) potassium and (b) cobalt. how many unpaired electrons does each possess?

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Lyric Villarreal · Answer 1

Cobalt has seven electrons in the d sublevel (count how many spaces over it is.) There are 5 orbitals in the d sublevel so the first 5 electrons each take a different orbital (Aufbau Principle.) Each orbital now has one unpaired electron. The last two pair with two of the 5 leaving 3 unpaired electrons.