The value of magnetic quantum number of the outermost electron of Zn⁺ ion is ______________.

Solution

Chemistry ma’am · 4 steps

Zn loses its 4s electron first, so the last electron left in Zn+ is the lone 4s electron.

1. Configuration of Zn. Zinc has Z = 30, so its configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
2. Form the ion. When a transition element ionises, electrons leave the shell with the highest n first. That is 4s, not 3d. So Zn⁺ is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹, and its outermost electron is the single 4s electron.
3. Read off m. For an s orbital l = 0. The magnetic quantum number runs from -l to +l, so the only allowed value is m = 0.
4. So. The magnetic quantum number of the outermost electron of Zn⁺ is 0.

The idea to keep. For transition metal ions, remove electrons from the highest-n shell (4s) before 3d. Any electron in an s orbital has l = 0 and therefore m = 0.

Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.