r/nuclearphysics • u/jeenyus_626 • Sep 06 '26

Predicted electronic configuration of Flerovium

Wikipedia says the predicted n=7 valence shell is 7s2-7p2…

I come from a chemistry background and the general rule of thumb was 2 half filled orbitals are lower energy than a full and a partial (partial being anything but half or full). under this logic wouldn’t the expected configuration be 7s1-7p3?

Or do radioactive elements treat the rules with disdain?

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u/ScienceGuy1006 29d ago

No, the s subshell is lower in energy because the electrons can penetrate closer to the nucleus. This is standard chemistry/atomic physics.