---
title: "A student developing a transition-metal coating process passes separate beams of isolated, neutral chromium and manganese atoms through the same nonuniform magnetic field. To compare the beams, the student uses a model in which stronger paramagnetic attraction corresponds to a larger number of unpaired electrons.  | Atomic beam | Atomic number, \\(Z\\) | |————-|———————-| | \\(\\text{Cr}\\) | \\(24\\) | | \\(\\text{Mn}\\) | \\(25\\) |  Which statement correctly predicts which beam experiences stronger paramagnetic attraction and explains the prediction?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120049/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:40:57+00:00"
---

# A student developing a transition-metal coating process passes separate beams of isolated, neutral chromium and manganese atoms through the same nonuniform magnetic field. To compare the beams, the student uses a model in which stronger paramagnetic attraction corresponds to a larger number of unpaired electrons.

| Atomic beam | Atomic number, \(Z\) |
|————-|———————-|
| \(\text{Cr}\) | \(24\) |
| \(\text{Mn}\) | \(25\) |

Which statement correctly predicts which beam experiences stronger paramagnetic attraction and explains the prediction?

A student developing a transition-metal coating process passes separate beams of isolated, neutral chromium and manganese atoms through the same nonuniform magnetic field. To compare the beams, the student uses a model in which stronger paramagnetic attraction corresponds to a larger number of unpaired electrons.

| Atomic beam | Atomic number, \(Z\) |
|-------------|----------------------|
| \(\text{Cr}\) | \(24\) |
| \(\text{Mn}\) | \(25\) |

Which statement correctly predicts which beam experiences stronger paramagnetic attraction and explains the prediction?

- **A.** The \(\text{Cr}\) beam experiences stronger attraction because the favorable half-filled \(3d\) subshell gives \(\text{Cr}\) the anomalous configuration \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^5\,4s^1\), with \(6\) unpaired electrons, whereas \(\text{Mn}\) has \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^5\,4s^2\), with \(5\) unpaired electrons.
- **B.** The \(\text{Cr}\) beam experiences stronger attraction because the lower nuclear charge of \(\text{Cr}\) holds its valence electrons less strongly, making the electrons easier for the magnetic field to align.
- **C.** The \(\text{Mn}\) beam experiences stronger attraction because regular orbital filling gives \(\text{Cr}\) the configuration \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^4\,4s^2\), with \(4\) unpaired electrons, and \(\text{Mn}\) the configuration \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^5\,4s^2\), with \(5\) unpaired electrons.
- **D.** The \(\text{Mn}\) beam experiences stronger attraction because \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^5\,4s^1\) gives \(\text{Cr}\) only \(5\) unpaired electrons, whereas \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^5\,4s^2\) gives \(\text{Mn}\) \(6\) unpaired electrons.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120049/*