[birdu]

Hello

I'm looking for help explaining the ground state electron configuration of Ru. I can't seem to come up with any satisfactory explainations, so I was hoping someone could tell me what the most plausible explaination out there is.

[Mitch]

Because as you get into the later transition metals the s and d orbitals start having roughly the same energy. So, instead of the atom having to make a pair of electrons(which takes energy) it would rather spread them out.

[Winga]

Because as you get into the later transition metals the s and d orbitals start having roughly the same energy. So, instead of the atom having to make a pair of electrons(which takes energy) it would rather spread them out.

Do you mean that electrons are not likely to pair up in 5s-orbital?

Although energy is required for pairing up in 5s-orbital, energy is also used to pair up in 4d-orbital.

Ru: [Kr] 4d7 5s1

So, why electrons pair up in 4d but not 5s?

[Donaldson Tan]

Isnt 4d lower energy level than 5s?