Zirconium Electron Configuration
Orbital diagram
- Valence electrons
- 4
- Unpaired electrons
- 2
- Block
- d-block
- Magnetism (atom)
- paramagnetic
Electrons per shell
| K (n = 1) | 2 |
|---|---|
| L (n = 2) | 8 |
| M (n = 3) | 18 |
| N (n = 4) | 10 |
| O (n = 5) | 2 |
Zirconium ion configurations
| Ion | Electrons | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Zr4+ | 36 | [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p6 |
How to write it
Place 40 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. Zirconium sits in period 5, group 4, in the d-block, so its last electron enters a d subshell. Replacing the inner electrons with the previous noble gas gives the shorthand [Kr] 4d2 5s2.
Try zirconium and its ions in the calculator, or see the full zirconium data sheet.
Zirconium electron configuration FAQ
What is the electron configuration of zirconium?
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d² 5s². Shorthand (noble gas) notation: [Kr] 4d² 5s².
What is the noble gas configuration of zirconium?
[Kr] 4d² 5s². The bracket stands for the Kr core electrons.
How many valence electrons does zirconium have?
4 (2 outer s + 2 d electrons; 2 in the outermost shell).
How many unpaired electrons does zirconium have?
2 in the ground state, following Hund’s rule. An atom with unpaired electrons is paramagnetic.
What is the electron configuration of Zr4+?
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ (36 electrons). Transition metal cations lose their outer s electrons before d electrons.