Electron Configuration for Fe, Fe2+, and Fe3+ (Iron and Iron Ions)

To write the configuration for the Iron ions, first we need to write the electron configuration for just Iron (Fe). We first need to find the number of electrons for the Fe atom (there are 26 electrons) using the Periodic Table. When we write the configuration, we'll put all 26 electrons in orbitals around the nucleus of the Iron atom.

Either way, the Iron electron configuration will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d6 4s2

Note that when writing the electron configuration for an atom like Fe, the 3d is usually written before the 4s. Both of the configurations have the correct numbers of electrons in each orbital, it is just a matter of how the electronic configuration notation is written (see below for an explanation why).

For the Fe2+ ion we remove two electrons from 4s2 leaving us with:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d6

For the Fe3+ ion we remove a total of three electrons (two from the 4s2 and one form the 3d6) leaving us with

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5

The configuration notation provides an easy way for scientists to write and communicate how electrons are arranged around the nucleus of an atom. This makes it easier to understand and predict how atoms will interact to form chemical bonds.

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[mohkadro]

I am an IB student and my chemistry book is from Cambridge university press. the textbook says that Fe2+ and Fe3+ should not have a noble gas configuration

[isabelstalcup]

why do you remove the 4s2 electrons before the 3d6 electrons, even though the 4s2 fill in before the 3d6?

[JustBengge]

Why would the electrons at 4s be used before the electrons at 3d?

[vlogs.ahad]

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[williamong]

Maybe u could make a video how to draw the orbitals regarding hybridisation etc?

[goutham]

ASAP. Why 4s electronics, why not 3d?

[nafisakhan]

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[mitoticgaming]

Fe 2+ has 14 Valence electrons doesn't it contradict the "octet" rule

[Aalijah_Matyevna]

Why don't we turn the electronic configuration of Fe3+ to a stable configuration?

[eliogomez]

Sr. Thks for the video, i have a question, Fe2+ [Ar] 3d6 = Co3+ [Ar] 3d6 ?¿? Isoeléctrics ¿?¿ . I am right?