Why is iron placed in the d-block of the periodic table?
Answer (3)
It is an element whose atom has an incomplete d sub-shell, or which can give rise to cations with an incomplete d sub-shell.
Iron is placed in the d-block of the periodic table because its valence electrons are present in the d-orbital. Specifically, iron has an electron configuration of [Ar]4s²3d⁶. Iron is a transition metal, which means that as it forms ions, such as Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺, the electrons are removed from the s orbital initially, not the d orbital. The d-block is defined by elements that are filling their d subshells with electrons, and iron fits this category with its partially filled d subshell.
Iron is located in the d-block of the periodic table because it has a partially filled 3d subshell in its electron configuration. This characteristic defines it as a transition metal, which shows unique properties due to its d electrons. Iron's ability to lose and gain electrons makes it versatile in chemical reactions and applications.
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