Slater's Rule

        

What is Slater's Rule and its significance?

How to calculate value of σ and Zeff using Slater' Rule:

Slater's Rule:

Slater’s rules are a set of empirical guidelines used to calculate the shielding constant (σ) and the effective nuclear charge (Zeff) experienced by an electron in a multi-electron atom.

They were introduced by John C. Slater to simplify the complex quantum mechanical interactions between electrons. These rules estimate how much the inner electrons reduce the attractive force of the nucleus on outer electrons.

Mathematically:

                             Zeff=Z−S

where: Z = atomic number (total nuclear charge)

            S = shielding constant (calculated using Slater’s rules








Significance of Slater's Rule:

  • To quantify shielding in multi-electron atoms.
  • To provide a systematic method for calculating effective nuclear charge without solving complex quantum equations.
  • To make predictions about electron behavior in different orbitals.

How to calculate value of σ and Zeff using Slater' Rule:

1. Write down the complete electronic configuration of the element and divide the electrons into the following orbital groups starting from the inside of the atom.(1s),(2s) (2p) (3s,3p) (3d) (4s, 4f) (4d) (4f) (5s,5p) (6s,6p) etc.

2. Now select the electron for which the value of σ is to be calculated. For this calculation add up the contributions to σ for the other electrons according to the following rules.

 

Types of electronic contribution to σ for each electron of this type.

(i)   All the electrons in groups outside the electron chosen.                    0

(ii)  All the electrons in the same group as chosen one.                            0.35 or 0.30 for 1s electron

 

(iii) All electrons in shell immediately outside.                                        0.85

(iv) All electrons further inside.                                                                1.00

(v) There will be no contribution to the value of σ by electrons residing 

in the orbitals having higher values of their principal quantum number

than the orbital containing the electron for which σ is being calculated.

 

Thus σ for an electron residing in ns or np orbital = 0.35×(Number of remaining electrons in ns or np orbital)+0.85(Number of electrons in (n-1)th shell+1.0(Number of electrons in the inner shell)

 

Now, let's solve a problem following following Slater's Rule

Q:Why is 4s orbital filled earlier than 3d orbitals in potassium atom (Z = 19)?

We know that configuration of Ar (Z = 18) is 1s2 2s22p6 3s23p6 . Thus 3rd shell is not completely filled in Ar atom, since 3d orbitals remain vacant in it. After 3p orbitals have been filled completely in Ar, the 19th electron in K(Z = 19) does not enter 3d orbitals; rather it goes to 4s orbital.The reason can be explained as follows:



(a)   K(Z = 19) = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1

σ = 0.35× 0+0.85×8+1.0×10=16.8               Zeff = 19-16.8=2.20

(b)  K(Z = 19) = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1     

       

 σ = 0.35×0+1.0×18= 18                                Zeff = 19-18=1.0                            

 

The value of Zeff experienced by 4s1electron of K-atom in (a) is equal to 2.20. The value of  Zeff experienced by 3d electron of K-atom in (b) is 1.0. Since the Zeff for 4s1 electron is greater than that for 3d1 electron, teh attraction between 4s1 electeron and nucleus is greater than between 3d1 electron and nucleus of K-atom.Thus configuration (a) would be more stable than configuration (b). In other words 4s orbital is filled earlier than 3d orbital.


 Q:Why ns electrons are removed from isolated gaseous atoms of transition metals and not (n-1)d electrons?

Let us consider the formation of Mn+ ion from Mn(Z = 25).

Mn(Z =25)= 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s2 

Zeff experienced by 4s1 electron in this atom is equal to 3.60 while Zeff for 3d1 electron is 5.60. Thus the removal of electron from 4s orbital is easier than from 3d orbital.

For electron in 4s orbital:

σ = 0.35× 1+0.85×13+1.0×10=21.4      Zeff = 25-21.4=3.60

For electron in 3d orbital:

σ = 0.35× 4+1.0×18=19.4                      Zeff = 25-19.4=5.60 

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