An electron in a ________ subshell experiences the greatest effective nuclear charge in a many-electron atom.
A)3f
B)3p
C)3d
D)3s
E)4s

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The effective nuclear charge (Zeff) is the positive charge an electron experiences from the nucleus minus the shielding effect of other electrons. Electrons in the 3s subshell experience more shielding from the electron in the 2s subshell than those in the 3p, 3d, or 3f subshells. Therefore, an electron in the 3s subshell experiences the lowest effective nuclear charge, while an electron in the 3d subshell experiences the highest effective nuclear charge.

An Electron in a ________ Subshell Experiences the Greatest Effective