Wize High School Grade 12 Chemistry Textbook > Atomic Models and Properties of Atoms
Bonus: Diamagnetic vs Paramagnetic Electron Configurations
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Diamagnetic vs Paramagnetic
You may see these terms come up when talking about electron configurations.
Diamagnetic - all electrons are paired
Paramagnetic - all electrons are not paired
Are the following electron configurations diamagnetic or paramagnetic?
Cd
[Kr] 5s2 4d10
diamagnetic-all electrons are paired
Tc
[Kr] 5s2 4d5
paramagnetic-one or more electrons are unpaired
Consider the electron configuration for Na
Is it diamagnetic or paramagnetic?
Paramagnetic
Consider the electron configuration for Si
Is it diamagnetic or paramagnetic?
Paramagnetic
Consider the electron configuration for Be
Is it diamagnetic or paramagnetic?
Diamagnetic
Wize Concept
Diamagnetic-all electrons are paired. If something is diamagnetic it will also be repelled from externally produced magnetic fields.
Paramagnetic-One or more electrons are left unpaired. If something is paramagnetic it will be attracted to an externally produced magnetic field.
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Example: Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic Species
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label them as D diamagnetic or P paramagnetic
a) Sc2+
Sc: [Ar] 4s2 3d1
Sc2+: [Ar]3d1 P
b) Cr2+
Cr: [Ar] 4s2 3d4 but since the d subshell prefers to be half filled rather than partially filled the actual electron configuration is:
Cr: [Ar] 4s1 3d5
Cr2+: [Ar] 3d4 P
c) Mn7+
Mn: [Ar] 4s2 3d5
Mn7+: [Ar] or [Ne]3s23p6 D
Practice: Diamagnetic
Which of the following are diamagnetic? (select all that apply in your answer)
