NEET2026ChemistryChapterActual
Consider the Fe ³⁺ ion in its ground state. Which of the following statements regarding its electronic configuration is INCORRECT?
Options
- AThe total number of occupied subshells is 6 .
- BThere are exactly 9 completely filled atomic orbitals.
- CElectrons are distributed across 4 principal quantum shells.
- DThe number of unpaired electrons present is 5 .
Correct answer
C. Electrons are distributed across 4 principal quantum shells.
Step-by-step solution
The atomic number of Fe is 26 . The electronic configuration of the Fe atom is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d⁶ . To form the Fe ³⁺ ion, three electrons are removed (two from the 4s subshell and one from the 3d subshell). The electronic configuration of Fe ³⁺ is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ . Evaluating the given options: The occupied subshells are 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and 3d . The total number of occupied subshells is 6 . The completely filled atomic orbitals are one in 1s , one in 2s , three in 2p , one in 3s , and three in