Palladium Valence Electrons
Why palladium has 10
Palladium has 46 electrons, arranged as 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10. Counting the 5s electrons plus the 4d electrons gives 10, the usual textbook convention for transition metals. Palladium is unusual: it has no 5s electrons at all, because a filled 4d¹⁰ subshell is lower in energy.
Palladium is a transition metal in group 10. Counting its outer s electrons plus the d electrons beneath them gives 10, the same as the group number.
What that means for bonding
Transition metals can lose different numbers of these electrons, which is why palladium shows several oxidation states (+2, +4). It has no 5s electrons, so its cations form by losing 4d electrons.
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 18. See the palladium electron configuration and orbital diagram or the full palladium data sheet.
Same group, same count
Palladium valence electrons FAQ
How many valence electrons does palladium have?
Palladium has 10 valence electrons. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰; the count is 10 d electrons (no 5s electrons).
How do you find the valence electrons of palladium?
Palladium is a transition metal in group 10. Counting its outer s electrons plus the d electrons beneath them gives 10, the same as the group number.
How many bonds does palladium form?
Transition metals can lose different numbers of these electrons, which is why palladium shows several oxidation states (+2, +4). It has no 5s electrons, so its cations form by losing 4d electrons.