Question

Choose the species below which would be paramagnetic in its ground state. a.cl ob.ca 0 ca2+

Answer 1

Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A paramagnetic specie is defined as the specie that contains atleast one unpaired electron.

As, atomic number of chlorine is 17. So, its electronic configuration is as follows.

  Cl : $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^{5}$

Atomic number of calcium is 20 and its ground state electronic configuration is as follows.

    Ca : $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^{6}4s^{2}$

Electronic configuration of $Ca^{2+}$ is as follows.

    $Ca^{2+}$ : $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^{6}$      

Therefore, out of the given options only Cl in its ground state contains one unpaired electron.

Hence, we can conclude that out of the given species Cl is paramagnetic in its ground state.