Why is Vanadium 4s2 3d3 in its ground state?

AI Thread Summary
Vanadium's ground state electron configuration is 4s2 3d3 rather than 3d5 due to the principles governing electron filling in orbitals. Although 3d5 appears to be a lower energy state, the actual configuration reflects the stability gained from having a filled 4s orbital and the specific energy levels of the 3d and 4s orbitals. The arrangement is influenced by the interplay of electron-electron repulsions and the overall energy minimization in the atom. This complexity is characteristic of transition metals, where the filling order can deviate from simple predictions based on energy levels alone. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding these nuances in electron configurations for transition metals like Vanadium.
MathewsMD
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Why does Vanadium have a ground state electron configuration of 4s2 3d3 and not 3d5?

In introductory chemistry and the latter arrangement seems to be lower in energy. Why is the former configuration the actual one?
 
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Vanadium is a wacky transition metal. Its electron orbital arrangement is complicated due to its position in the periodic table.

This article explains some of the quirks of how electron orbitals are filled:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_configuration
 

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