The highest positive oxidation number that chlorine can exhibit an any compound is +7, whereas its most negative oxidation number is -1. Write the electron configuration of chlorine and explain why these are limiting oxidation numbers for chlorine.
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5 - To get to +7 the chlorine atom loses its seven valence electrons, but it only
has room for one more in the p sublevel to get to –1.
A cube of butter weight 0.250lb and has a volume of 130ml. what is the density?
To determine the electron configuration of chlorine, you need to refer to the periodic table. Chlorine (Cl) is located in Group 17, also known as the halogens. The atomic number of chlorine is 17, meaning it has 17 electrons.
The electron configuration of chlorine is: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^5
Now, let's discuss why +7 and -1 are the limiting oxidation numbers for chlorine.
The electron configuration tells us the arrangement of electrons in different energy levels or orbitals. In the case of chlorine, the outermost energy level is the 3rd energy level, specifically the 3p sublevel. The 3p sublevel can accommodate up to 6 electrons.
Chlorine has 7 valence electrons in the 3p sublevel. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level and they are primarily responsible for chemical bonding and reactions.
To reach a stable electron configuration, chlorine tends to gain one electron, achieving a full 3p sublevel with 8 electrons. This results in a negatively charged ion, called chloride (Cl^-) with an oxidation number of -1. This is the most common oxidation state of chlorine as it reflects its tendency to gain one electron to achieve a stable configuration.
On the other hand, chlorine can also exhibit a positive oxidation number. The 3p sublevel can lose up to 7 electrons to reach a noble gas configuration, similar to the nearest noble gas, argon. This is the case in compounds like chlorine heptoxide (Cl2O7), where chlorine has an oxidation number of +7. However, it is important to note that compounds with chlorine in its highest positive oxidation state of +7 are relatively uncommon and highly reactive.
In summary, the electron configuration of chlorine is 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^5. The limiting oxidation numbers for chlorine are +7 and -1. Chlorine tends to gain one electron to achieve a stable configuration with an oxidation number of -1, while it can lose up to 7 electrons to achieve a full 3p sublevel, resulting in an oxidation number of +7.