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Grade 11Physical Chemistry

Why are half filled and fully filled orbitals more stable ? What is exchange energy ?

Profile image of Sid Sarv
8 Years agoGrade 11
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Profile image of Arun
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer8 Years ago
Dear Sid
 
The exactly half-filled and fully filled orbitals have greater stability than other configurations.The reason for their stability are symmetry and exchange energy.(a).SymmetryThe half-filled and fully-filled orbitals are more symmetrical than any other configuration and symmetry leads to greater stability.(b). Exchange EnergyThe electrons present in the different orbitals of the same sub-shell can exchange their positions. Each such exchange leads to the decrease in energy known asExchange Energy. Greater the number of exchanges, greater the exchange energy and hence greater the stability. As the number of exchanges that take place in the half-filled and fully-filled orbitals is maximum, thus exchange energy is maximum and hence maximum stability.
Regards
Arun (askIITians forum expert)