Zinc Electron Configuration
Orbital diagram
- Valence electrons
- 12
- Unpaired electrons
- 0
- Block
- d-block
- Magnetism (atom)
- diamagnetic
Electrons per shell
| K (n = 1) | 2 |
|---|---|
| L (n = 2) | 8 |
| M (n = 3) | 18 |
| N (n = 4) | 2 |
Zinc ion configurations
| Ion | Electrons | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Zn2+ | 28 | [Ar] 3d10 |
How to write it
Place 30 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. Zinc sits in period 4, group 12, 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] 3d10 4s2.
Try zinc and its ions in the calculator, or see the full zinc data sheet.
Zinc electron configuration FAQ
What is the electron configuration of zinc?
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s². Shorthand (noble gas) notation: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
What is the noble gas configuration of zinc?
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s². The bracket stands for the Ar core electrons.
How many valence electrons does zinc have?
12 (2 outer s + 10 d electrons; 2 in the outermost shell).
How many unpaired electrons does zinc have?
0 in the ground state, following Hund’s rule. With all electrons paired, the atom is diamagnetic.
What is the electron configuration of Zn2+?
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ (28 electrons). Transition metal cations lose their outer s electrons before d electrons.