Question #89c74

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Dec 1, 2017

It doesn't matter. It's Gallium, an element that you can see is using #d# orbitals. That allows it to store up to an additional #10# electrons, allowing it to have #18# electrons in its #n = 3# set of orbitals.

And this follows for elements at the 3rd row and past. With #n = 3#, you have the #3s,3p,3d# orbitals, which each hold #2# electrons. So, with one #3s#, three #3p#, and five #3d# orbitals, you can then hold up to #18# electrons. Transition metals make good use of this flexibility.

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