Valence Electrons in Gadolinium (Gd)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Gadolinium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Gadolinium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Gadolinium (Gd, Element 64)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Gadolinium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Gadolinium is:
[Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Gadolinium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Xe] core are the outermost electrons:
4f7 5d1 6s2
Step 3: Use the principle quantum number to identify the valence electrons
Extract the principle quantum number, n, and number of electrons from the electron configuration:
| Electron Configuration | n | Orbital | Number of Electrons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4f7 | 4 | f | 7 |
| 5d1 | 5 | d | 1 |
| 6s2 | 6 | s | 2 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 6) are valence electrons.
Answer
Gadolinium (Gd) has 2 valence electron(s).
