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Wize University Chemistry Textbook > Quantum Numbers and Electron Configurations

Diamagnetic vs Paramagnetic Electron Configurations

Electron Configurations for Ions Previous Section
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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


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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
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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
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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)


Extra Practice
Practice: Quantum Numbers and Electronic Configuration
1. Which groups of atoms are diamagnetic in their ground electronic states?
2. What would be the electronic configuration of Na if each orbital could hold 3 instead of 2 electrons? Draw the electronic configuration assuming all other rules are valid.
3. What is the maximum number of electrons in an atom that has: n =3, ml = ±1, ms = + 1/2?
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label them as D diamagnetic or P paramagnetic
Cr2+
Write the shorthand electron configurations for the following species pairs, and state if they are paramagnetic or diamagnetic:
Cu and Cu+{\small \text{Cu and Cu}^+}
I and I−{\small \text{I and I}}^-
MOT
Similar to 2017, final exam, #50
Rank the following species in terms of increasing bond length and comment on their magnetic properties:
O22+, O2+, O2, O2―, and O22―.
Atomic Orbital Diagram
Draw the atomic orbital diagram of a neutral magnesium atom and determine the magnetism of the atom.
Periodic Table: Magnetism
Fill in the blanks using neutral atoms from the 4th period. Note there may be more than one answer.
____________ is diamagnetic
Which of the following is not paramagnetic?
Elements: Magnetism
Which of the following are paramagnetic? (Note: Answer Yes or No)
"The Periodic Table", image retrieved from Chemistry 2e (https://d3bxy9euw4e147.cloudfront.net/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/Chemistry2e-OP_QCzV58S.pdf) by Flowers, P et al., is licensed under CC BY.
Elements: Magnetism
Which of the following are diamagnetic? (select all that apply in your answer)
"The Periodic Table", image retrieved from Chemistry 2e (https://d3bxy9euw4e147.cloudfront.net/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/Chemistry2e-OP_QCzV58S.pdf) by Flowers, P et al., is licensed under CC BY.
Atom: Electron Configuration
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label them as D diamagnetic or P paramagnetic
a) Sc2+
b) Cr2+
According to MO theory, which of the following molecules would be diamagnetic?
Elements: Diamagnetic Diatomics
Which of the following diatomic molecules are paramagnetic? Use MO theory in your analysis.
i. O2
ii. N2
Elements: Magnetism
Which of the ground-state atoms in the table below have their magnetic behavior identified correctly?
AtomClassificationI.MgparamagneticII.SidiamagneticIII.Brdiamagnetic\begin{array}{c:c:c} &\rm Atom&\rm Classification\\ \hline \rm I. &\rm Mg&\rm paramagnetic \\ \hline \rm II. &\rm Si& \rm diamagnetic \\ \hline \rm III. &\rm Br&\rm diamagnetic \end{array}
paramagnetic
What is the electron configuration of Ni2+? Bonus: Is this diamagnetic or paramagnetic (see solutions for answer)
Atom: Electronic Configuration and Magnetism
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label them as D diamagnetic or P paramagnetic
Ni2-
Elements: Magnetism
Which of the following atoms or ions is paramagnetic?
Atom: Electron configuration and Magnetism
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label them as D diamagnetic or P paramagnetic
Mn5+
Atom: Electronic Configuration and Magnetism
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label them as D diamagnetic or P paramagnetic
Cr2+
Elements: Magnetism
Write the electronic configuration of the following species, and label it as diamagnetic or paramagnetic
Sc2+