Question

Element 106 has been named seaborgium, \(\mathrm{Sg}\), in honor of Glenn Seaborg, discoverer of the first transuranium element. a. Write the expected electron configuration for element 106 b. What other element would be most like element 106 in its properties?

Short answer

a. The electron configuration for element 106, seaborgium (Sg), is \([\mathrm{Rn}] 5f^{14} 6d^4 7s^2\). b. Seaborgium is most like tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) in its properties, as they are in the same group (d^4) but in different periods.

Step-by-step solution

Determine the electron configuration for element 106

Element 106, seaborgium (Sg), has 106 electrons. To determine its electron configuration, we fill up the orbitals following the Aufbau principle. The Aufbau principle states that we should fill the orbitals in the order of increasing energy levels. The order of filling is: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p Filling up the orbitals, seaborgium's electron configuration will be: \(1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6, 4s^2, 3d^{10}, 4p^6, 5s^2, 4d^{10}, 5p^6, 6s^2, 4f^{14}, 5d^{10}, 6p^6, 7s^2, 5f^{14}, 6d^4\) Thus, seaborgium's electron configuration is: \([\mathrm{Rn}] 5f^{14} 6d^4 7s^2\)

Identify the position of seaborgium in the periodic table

Now that we have the electron configuration of seaborgium, we can determine its position in the periodic table. From the electron configuration, we can see that seaborgium is in the 6d block, specifically in the 6d^4 group.

Identify the element most similar to seaborgium

To find an element with properties most similar to seaborgium, we must look for an element that resides in the same group of the periodic table. Elements within a group share similar chemical properties due to having the same number of valence electrons. Since seaborgium is in the 6d^4 group, the most similar element must also be in the d^4 group but in a different period. In the periodic table, the elements tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) are in the 5d^4 and 4d^4 groups, respectively. Therefore, element 106, seaborgium, is most like tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) in its properties.

Key concepts

Aufbau Principle

The Aufbau principle is one of the fundamental guidelines used to determine the electron configuration of atoms. It is a German term that directly translates to 'building up' or 'construction'. The principle outlines a theoretical approach suggesting that electrons orbiting one or multiple nuclei occupy the lowest available energy level before filling higher states. This behavior lays the groundwork for understanding how electrons arrange themselves in atom's shells and subshells.

According to the Aufbau principle, the sequence for filling in electrons into atomic orbitals begins at the lowest energy level, the 1s orbital, and increases to orbitals of higher energy. The general order can be remembered using a diagram often referred to as an 'Aufbau diagram', which leads us through the orbitals in the correct order which are, starting from the lowest energy: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and so forth.

However, the Aufbau principle is not an absolute rule but more of a guideline. There are exceptions to the order, especially among transition metals and other complex atoms where electron-electron interactions and orbital shapes come into play, influencing atomic energy levels. While these deviations are less common, they are crucial for an accurate depiction of the electron configurations for elements such as seaborgium.

Periodic Table

The periodic table is a comprehensive chart that organizes all known chemical elements in an informative array. Elements are arranged from left to right and top to bottom in order of increasing atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus. One of the remarkable features of the periodic table is its ability to group elements according to common properties.

The table has rows, known as periods, and columns, known as groups or families. Elements in the same period have the same number of atomic orbitals. Moving from left to right across a period, each element has one more proton and is one electron heavier than the element before it. Meanwhile, elements in the same group share similar chemical and physical properties because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, also referred to as valence electrons.

In the case of seaborgium (Sg), located in group 6 of the periodic table, it shares its group with chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), and other elements in the same column. These elements, known for their roles in high-strength alloys and chemical catalysts, exhibit characteristics similar to seaborgium, which was determined through its electron configuration and subsequent position in the periodic table.

Transuranium Elements

Transuranium elements are the chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than that of uranium (92). These elements do not occur naturally and are synthesized in laboratories through particle accelerators or nuclear reactors. The study of transuranium elements helps scientists delve into the understanding of the forces that hold the atomic nucleus together and provides insights into the limits of periodic table.

Seaborgium (Sg), element 106, is one such transuranium element. Named after Glenn T. Seaborg, who was responsible for the discovery of several transuranium elements, seaborgium operates subject to the same physical and chemical rules that govern all elements. These elements, due to their instability and radioactive nature, have a limited range of applications, often confined to scientific research.

Understanding the electron configuration of transuranium elements like seaborgium allows scientists to predict their chemical behavior, possible compound formation, and potential uses. Despite their fleeting existence, these elements play a critical role in expanding our knowledge of chemistry, physics, and the very fabric of the material universe.