1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. The electronic configuration of gadolinium (at. no. = 64) is

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. The electronic configuration of gadolinium (at. no. = 64) is

AIPMTAIPMT 1997The d-and f-Block Elements

Solution:

The electronic configuration of $La ( Z = 5 7 )$ is $[ Xe ] 5 d ^{1} 6 s ^{2}$. Therefore, further addition of electrons occurs in a lower energy $4 f$ -orbital till it is exactly half filled at $\operatorname{Eu}( Z = 6 3 )$. Thus, the electronic configuration of Eu is $[ Xe ] 4 f ^{7} 6 s ^{2} .$ Therefore, addition of next electron doesn't occur in a more stable exactly half-filled $4 f ^{7}$ shell but occur in a little higher energy 5d-orbital. Thus, the electronic configuration of $Gd ( Z =64)$ is $[ Xe ] 4 f ^{7} 5 d ^{1} 6 s ^{2}$