JEE Advance - Chemistry (1982 - No. 7)

The outer electronic configuration of the ground state chromium atom is 3d4 4s2
TRUE
FALSE

Explanation

Statement is FALSE. The outer electronic configuration of the ground state chromium atom is unusual compared to what might be expected based on a straightforward application of the Aufbau principle. The actual outer electronic configuration of chromium is $3d^{5} 4s^{1}$, not $3d^{4} 4s^{2}$.

This configuration arises because a half-filled d subshell ($3d^{5}$) is more stable than the configuration $3d^{4} 4s^{2}$. By promoting an electron from the 4s orbital to the 3d orbital to achieve a half-filled d subshell, chromium minimizes its energy. This is due to the increased exchange energy and symmetry of the half-filled d subshell, leading to greater stability. Thus, the correct outer electronic configuration of a ground state chromium atom is $3d^{5} 4s^{1}$.

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