What is the effective nuclear charger of an electron in a 5p orbital of iodine when the shielding parameter is equal to 48

The effective nuclear charge of an electron in a 5p orbital of iodine is 5

Explanation:

The effective nuclear charge, Zeff is the net charge when you subtract the charge of the shielding electrons (number of electrons between your electron and the electrons in levels closer to the nucleus than yours) from the total nuclear charge (number of protons). Too many words, so see the equation:

Zeff = atomic number - shielding electrons

Iodine has atomic number (number of protons) equal to 53.

Hence, the neutral atom also has 53 electrons.

The electron configuration of iodine is [₃₆Kr] 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁵ (36 + 2 + 10 + 5 = 53)

So, iodine has 5 p electrons and they belong to the highest energy level. The remaining 53 - 5 = 48 electrons are in lower energy levels, and they are the shielding electrons. That is why the shielding parameter is 48.

So, you just must use the equation:

Zeff = atomic number - shielding electrons Zeff = 53 - 48 = 5 ← answer