January 08, 2025, 02:28:11 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Topic: Ionisation problem with Hg  (Read 3485 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ortho/meta/parasite

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 6
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Ionisation problem with Hg
« on: May 12, 2012, 08:42:40 AM »
Why is the first ionisation energy of Hg[Xe]4f145d106s2 higher than that of Zn and Cd directly above it despite it having a full set of d and f electrons that should shield the 6s2 electrons which are the ones being removed?
Logged

Offline Schrödinger

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1162
  • Mole Snacks: +138/-98
  • Gender: Male
Re: Ionisation problem with Hg
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2012, 09:41:36 AM »
Well, that's the reason isnt it? The f-orbitals provide poor shielding. This results in increased effective nuclear charge that attracts the valence electron as compared to the elements above it.
Logged
"Destiny is not a matter of chance; but a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved."
- William Jennings Bryan

Offline cheese (MSW)

  • Not a
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 144
  • Mole Snacks: +15/-23
  • Gender: Male
Re: Ionisation problem with Hg
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2012, 11:06:41 PM »
The poor screening of the nuclear charge on the 6s^2e⁻s  by the 4f e⁻s (lanthanide contraction)
 is only half the story. 
Google relativistic effects in chemistry to learn the other half.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Sponsored Links