[Bob Sacamano]

My text says:

"As the nuclear charge increases, the electrons are more strongly attracted, and the energy levels decrease in energy - becoming more stable - with the d orbitals changing more rapidly than the s orbitals, because the d orbitals are not shielded as well from the nucleus"

I'm not seeing why a d orbital could be less shielded than an s or p orbital. Am I missing something here?

[thekid_frankie]

They are certainly less-shielded from outside forces than s and p MO's, but as far as intramolecular forces... It is intuitive to say they are most-shielded "from the nucleus".  The text is a bit confusing for sure.