Chem Valence electron question

[leaf345]

For the purpose of drawing dot structures and determining VSEPR shape, how do I figure out the number of valence electrons for inner transitional metals? Do I only count the electrons in the highest p and s orbitals, or do I also count the electrons in d,f,etc. orbitals? Clarification on this would be appreciated!

 

[NotMrX]

For the purpose of drawing dot structures and determining VSEPR shape, how do I figure out the number of valence electrons for inner transitional metals? Do I only count the electrons in the highest p and s orbitals, or do I also count the electrons in d,f,etc. orbitals? Clarification on this would be appreciated!

There are different ways of doing this. However valence electrons are usefull in lewis structures because they are reactive. The reactive electrons for transition metals are the s orbitals and d orbitals. The lewis structures are just a model and most the time they are not used for d orbitals. At that point people ussually use molecular orbital theory.

I hope that helped.

 

[Blueshift5]

For inner transitional metals, the number of valence electrons can be determined by counting the electrons in the highest p and s orbitals, as well as the d and f orbitals. This is because these orbitals also contribute to the bonding and overall electronic structure of the atom. However, it is important to note that the d and f orbitals may not always participate in bonding and can sometimes be considered "core" electrons, so their contribution to the valence electron count may vary. It is best to consult a periodic table or a reliable source for the specific valence electron count of a particular inner transitional metal. Additionally, for drawing dot structures and determining VSEPR shape, the valence electron count is only used as a guideline and may not always accurately predict the actual bonding and geometry of the molecule. Other factors such as electronegativity and hybridization should also be considered.