Chemistry · Chapter 19

Fill the d Orbitals, Then Strip Them

Pick a metal from the first row of the d-block, then put a charge on it. The 4s box fills first but empties first too. Watch both halves of that rule happen in the same picture.

Orbital boxes and the energy order arrows are electrons

3d and 4s orbital boxes with the energy ladder for the chosen ion Fe, neutral atom core: [Ar] Which level is lower right now? energy Spin tally

Metal first row of the d-block

Charge on the ion

Live numbers

[Ar]3d⁶ 4s²configuration neutral

What you are looking at

the rule in action
4s fills first