Can you explain why zinc reacts with oxygen more readily than iron because of it's electronic configuration?

EDIT: If you want to check the electronic config of both metals search google for "dynamic periodic table" and follow the first link.

This is due to electron in the valance shell and either way fe is more reactive than zn

 

i don't know in much detail ........sorry if answer is insufficient

thanks for trying... I was looking for info on the actual electronic configuration (1s2 2s2 etc)

i have to refer to my text book for that , try some one else or i will tell you 2maro , that is most certainly ...........bye!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks.

iron is [Ar] 3d6 4s2

zinc is [Ar] 3d10 4s2

 

you don't need the inner shells for this application so they've been substituted with [Ar] which is the electron configuration of argon.

 

pay particular attention to the 3d orbitals.

This is due to electron in the valance shell and either way fe is more reactive than zn

 

i don't know in much detail ........sorry if answer is insufficient

 

Never mind the details.

You are just plain wrong.

Zn is more reactive than Fe.

Whoops... In my rush to make this post I obviously made a typo.. Yeah I meant Zinc is more reactive than Fe

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Merged post follows:

Consecutive posts merged

iron is [Ar] 3d6 4s2

zinc is [Ar] 3d10 4s2

 

you don't need the inner shells for this application so they've been substituted with [Ar] which is the electron configuration of argon.

 

pay particular attention to the 3d orbitals.

 

I'm guessing that since it's the 4s orbitals that take part in reactions, the effects of the shielding of the 3d electrons comes into play. Since the shielding effect of the electrons in zinc is greater it can involve it 4s electron in reaction more easily.

Am I right?

yep pretty much.

 

and you did actually state that zinc was more reactive in your post it was the other guy who made the claim iron was more reactive.

ah... thanks for your help , everyone!

I guess I though I posted it because of the "007" part in out usernames.

thanks for correcting me all of you ..........