Elements with exceptional electronic configuration

[babita]

1. Homework Statement [/b

Some elements having exceptional electronic configuration have 2 shells having e not completely filled.
Like Rh has configuration 4s2 4p6 4d8 5s2
now when we study how atoms combine we consider only the outermost shell because it is the only one not filled completely
what happens in cases like above?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Borek]

Exact ground states of the elements don't matter much when it comes to the way they react. You can base your predictions on the configuration "that would be". Reason behind is that these exceptional configurations mean a very small energy difference between orbitals involved.

 

[babita]

Do you mean we can consider the above configuration as 4s2 4p6 4d10 ?

 

[Borek]

Please elaborate on what you are trying to do.

 

[babita]

You can base your predictions on the configuration "that would be"
what do you mean by this?

 

[Borek]

When you look at configurations of copper and chromium, they are different from what you would expect applying Madelung's rule. However, the differences in energy between both predicted and experimentally determined configurations are so small, chemistry of both elements mostly follows the "naive" approach.