Why is it ,for instance, that calcium which has 20 electrons uses 4 energy levels when it only really needs 3? i mean i was always taught in the first level there were 2, 2nd 8, 3rd 18, 4th 32, ect. ect. y does calcium only put 8 in the 3rd and have 2 in the 4th?
2007-08-27 15:22:06 · 3 answers · asked by Nicholas 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
and then bromine has the full 18 in the 3rd.
2007-08-27 15:39:23 · update #1
it is the Aufbau principle. Look that up and you will know why
2007-08-27 17:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by travis g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the laws of chemistry, the next s energy level will always fill up before the current d energy level. for example, in calcium, the 4s level always fills up before the 3d level. this is true for all elements that contain a d level.
2007-08-27 15:33:16 · answer #2 · answered by james 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the 4s orbital is lower in energy than the 3d orbitals.
2007-08-27 15:31:31 · answer #3 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋