Nickel Electron Configuration
Orbital diagram
- Valence electrons
- 10
- Unpaired electrons
- 2
- Block
- d-block
- Magnetism (atom)
- paramagnetic
Electrons per shell
| K (n = 1) | 2 |
|---|---|
| L (n = 2) | 8 |
| M (n = 3) | 16 |
| N (n = 4) | 2 |
Nickel ion configurations
| Ion | Electrons | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Ni2+ | 26 | [Ar] 3d8 |
How to write it
Place 28 electrons into subshells in the Aufbau order (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p), filling s with 2, p with 6, d with 10 and f with 14. Nickel sits in period 4, group 10, in the d-block, so its last electron enters a d subshell. Replacing the inner electrons with the previous noble gas gives the shorthand [Ar] 3d8 4s2.
Try nickel and its ions in the calculator, or see the full nickel data sheet.
Nickel electron configuration FAQ
What is the electron configuration of nickel?
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁸ 4s². Shorthand (noble gas) notation: [Ar] 3d⁸ 4s².
What is the noble gas configuration of nickel?
[Ar] 3d⁸ 4s². The bracket stands for the Ar core electrons.
How many valence electrons does nickel have?
10 (2 outer s + 8 d electrons; 2 in the outermost shell).
How many unpaired electrons does nickel have?
2 in the ground state, following Hund’s rule. An atom with unpaired electrons is paramagnetic.
What is the electron configuration of Ni2+?
[Ar] 3d⁸ (26 electrons). Transition metal cations lose their outer s electrons before d electrons.