Electronic Configuration of Gadolinium (Atomic number=64)

Gadolinium is a chemical element with the atomic number 64 and is represented by the symbol Gd in the periodic table. It belongs to the lanthanide series and is considered a rare earth metal. The electronic configuration of an atom describes how the electrons are distributed in its various energy levels or orbitals.

1. Electronic Configuration of a Gadolinium Atom:

The electronic configuration of an atom is represented by a series of numbers and letters, where the numbers represent the energy levels and the letters represent the type of orbital. The electronic configuration of gadolinium can be determined by using the Aufbau principle, the Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund's rule.

The Aufbau principle states that electrons fill the lowest energy levels first before moving to higher energy levels. The Pauli exclusion principle states that each electron within an atom must have a unique set of quantum numbers, meaning that no two electrons can have the same four quantum numbers. Hund's rule states that electrons prefer to occupy orbitals singly before pairing up.

2. Orbital Filling in Gadolinium:

To determine the electronic configuration of gadolinium, we need to know the number of electrons it contains. Gadolinium has an atomic number of 64, which means it has 64 electrons.

Gadolinium's electronic configuration can be written as follows:

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6p⁶

Let's break down the electronic configuration:

- The first two electrons occupy the 1s orbital.
- The next two electrons occupy the 2s orbital.
- The following six electrons occupy the 2p orbital.
- The next two electrons occupy the 3s orbital.
- The following six electrons occupy the 3p orbital.
- The next two electrons occupy the 4s orbital.
- The following ten electrons occupy the 3d orbital.
- The next six electrons occupy the 4p orbital.
- The following two electrons occupy the 5s orbital.
- The next ten electrons occupy the 4d orbital.
- The following six electrons occupy the 5p orbital.
- The next two electrons occupy the 6s orbital.
- The next seven electrons occupy the 4f orbital.
- The final electron occupies the 5d orbital.

3. Summary:

In summary, the electronic configuration of gadolinium (atomic number 64) is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6p⁶. Understanding the electronic configuration helps us understand the arrangement and distribution of electrons in an atom, which is crucial for understanding its chemical behavior and properties.