Which element from following does NOT exhibit spin only magnetic moment in +3 state?

Which element from following does NOT exhibit spin only magnetic moment in +3 state?
  1. $\mathrm{Cr}$
  2. V
  3. $\mathrm{Ti}$
  4. $\mathrm{Sc}$

Solution

The element that does not exhibit spin only magnetic moment in the +3 state is $\mathrm{Sc}$ (Scandium). This is because Sc loses all of its 3d electrons when it forms a +3 ion, leaving only its 4s electrons. Since there are no unpaired electrons in the 4s subshell, the $\mathrm{Sc}^{3+}$ ion has no spin magnetic moment.
The other elements listed ($\mathrm{C}$, $\mathrm{Ti}$, and unknown element) all have partially filled d orbitals in their +3 state, which can lead to unpaired electrons and a spin magnetic moment.

Asked in: MHT CET 2023 (11 May Shift 2)

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