Question

The maximum number of microstates for d? electronic configuration is ______

Answer 1

Concept:

• A microstate is a specific way in which we can arrange the energy of the system.
• Many microstates are indistinguishable from each other.
• The more indistinguishable microstates, the higher the entropy.
• The formula for calculating the number of microstates is:

\(= {N! \over (n - r)! r!}\), Where N = Number of electron positions, r = number of electrons.

Calculation:

• As there are 5 orbitals in d, the number of orbitals × electrons = electron positions
• One electron can occupy two spin states, so positions 'N' = 5 × 2 = 10
• The number of electrons 'r' = 2

We know that the number of microstates is given by:

\(= {N! \over (n - r)! r!}\)

Substituting the values in the above equation, we get:
Microstates = \(x = {10! \over (10-2)!\times 2!} =45\)

hence, the number of microstates in d² is 45.