How many degenerate orbitals are needed in CIF5 to contain seven electrons with five of them unpaired?
6 is correct because one will be filled with two and the other five with one making a total of seven electrons.
To determine the number of degenerate orbitals needed to accommodate seven electrons, with five of them unpaired, we need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine the electron configuration of CIF5.
First, we need to determine the number of valence electrons for each element in the compound. In CIF5, Carbon (C) and Fluorine (F) are present.
C: Carbon is in group 4, so it has 4 valence electrons.
F: Fluorine is in group 7, so it has 7 valence electrons.
Step 2: Calculate the total number of valence electrons.
Now, calculate the total number of valence electrons in CIF5 by multiplying the number of atoms by their respective valence electrons, then add them together.
Valence electrons in CIF5 = (1 * Valence electrons of Carbon) + (5 * Valence electrons of Fluorine)
Valence electrons in CIF5 = (1 * 4) + (5 * 7)
Valence electrons in CIF5 = 4 + 35
Valence electrons in CIF5 = 39
Step 3: Distribute the electrons.
Next, start filling the orbitals with the electrons, starting from the lowest energy level.
Carbon (C) has 4 valence electrons which will occupy the lowest energy orbital available. Since Carbon's electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p², it has two unpaired electrons.
Fluorine (F) has 7 valence electrons. One electron will pair with one of the unpaired electrons of Carbon, while the remaining 6 electrons will be placed in a fluorine atom's orbitals.
The electron distribution will be as follows:
C: ↑↓ ↑↓
F: ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓
Step 4: Count the number of degenerate orbitals needed.
Now, count the number of degenerate orbitals required to accommodate the seven electrons.
In CIF5, there are five unpaired electrons, which means they require five separate orbitals. In addition, the two unpaired electrons of Carbon require two separate orbitals.
Hence, to contain seven electrons, five of them unpaired, CIF5 will need a total of seven degenerate orbitals.