How many unpaired electrons does cobalt have in its ground state?
A) 7
B) 27
C) 5
D) 3
E) 1

Name: How many unpaired electrons does cobalt have in its ground state? A) 7 B) 27 C) 5 D) 3 E) 1
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Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cobalt has 27 electrons, with the electron configuration [Ar] 3d7 4s2. The 3d sublevel has 5 orbitals, each with a maximum capacity of 2 electrons. In the ground state, the 7 electrons in the 3d sublevel will each occupy their own orbital, leaving 3 unpaired electrons. Therefore, the answer is D) 3.

How Many Unpaired Electrons Does Cobalt Have in Its Ground