tylertxanreborn
New member
this a predictable funtion? Au 196.9665 [Kr] 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s1
Hg 200.59 [Kr] 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2
Tl 204.383 [Kr] 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p1
All three atoms have very low energy 6s orbitals. But the gold 6s orbital is only half filled. Accepting an electron into that low energy orbital will lower energy overall, and metal-metal bonding is expected to be strong as a result. Still, the 6s electron is held tightly and gold's reputation as a 'noble metal' comes from its inertness.
Thallium is more massive, so the 6s pair is even more inert than in Hg. But thallium has a 6p electron. Remember that p electrons can't approach the nucleus as closely as s electrons; the p orbital has a nodal plane that passes through the nucleus. So that 6p electron is fairly reactive compared to the 6s electrons. That explains why the most common ion of thallium is Tl+, and not the +3 ion like B and Al and other members of its family.
Wow--so mercury is not intelligently designed--it's being liquid at room temperture is a predictable outcome of its nuclear structure.
Hg 200.59 [Kr] 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2
Tl 204.383 [Kr] 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p1
All three atoms have very low energy 6s orbitals. But the gold 6s orbital is only half filled. Accepting an electron into that low energy orbital will lower energy overall, and metal-metal bonding is expected to be strong as a result. Still, the 6s electron is held tightly and gold's reputation as a 'noble metal' comes from its inertness.
Thallium is more massive, so the 6s pair is even more inert than in Hg. But thallium has a 6p electron. Remember that p electrons can't approach the nucleus as closely as s electrons; the p orbital has a nodal plane that passes through the nucleus. So that 6p electron is fairly reactive compared to the 6s electrons. That explains why the most common ion of thallium is Tl+, and not the +3 ion like B and Al and other members of its family.
Wow--so mercury is not intelligently designed--it's being liquid at room temperture is a predictable outcome of its nuclear structure.