Answer to Question #151464 in General Chemistry for Reanah Galza

Question

I just wanna how did Chromium have a 3+ and 2+ charge instead of 6+? Thank you

Answer 1

Electronic configuration of Chromium is : [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹

Chromium have 3+ charge when 3 electrons removed from chromium atom and it gets [Ar] 3d³ 4s⁰ configuration and in 2+ charge state it has electronic configuration [Ar] 3d⁴ 4s⁰ on removing 2 electron from the chromium atom. And to get +6 change state all the 6 electons should removed from the chromium atom.

Removal of 2 or 3 electron don't need much energy as required by 6 electons to removed from the chromium atom.

The distability arise on removing 2 (Cr2+) or 3 (Cr3+) electons can be neutralize by electrostatic field of suitable –ve charge anion.

But on removing 6 electons the atom is so unstable that it can't be stabilized by electrostatic field of suitable –ve charge anion.

So in solution we have a 3+ and 2+ charge instead of 6+