The configuration of Mn, atomic number 25 is
1s2 2p2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s2. Except for Cu and Cr, the 3d elements have the number of electrons in the 3d shell that is the same as the second number of the atomic number. Thus, Mn has 5 electrons in the 3d shell. And Hund's rule of maximum multiplicity tells us that electrons are unpaired if possible. Therefore, all 5 electrons can be unpaired and that makes it paramagnetic.
Based on its electronic configuration an atom of manganese would have________unpaired electrons and would be expected to be________.
(a)3,paramagnetic
(b)2;diamagnetic
(c)0,diamagnetic
(d)5,paramagnetic
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