Full configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²
In the short form, [Xe] stands for the 54 electrons of xenon, the noble gas before lead. Only the electrons after it are written out.
Orbital diagram
Outer subshells only. Each box is an orbital; electrons fill singly first (Hund's rule), then pair up with opposite spins.
What the configuration tells you
Lead's two 6p electrons are lost more easily than its 6s pair, so Pb²⁺ is more stable than Pb⁴⁺. This is the inert pair effect.
Configuration of lead ions
| Ion | Configuration | Unpaired | Moment (BM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pb²⁺ | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² | 0 | 0.00 |
| Pb⁴⁺ | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ | 0 | 0.00 |
Moment is the spin-only magnetic moment μ = √(n(n + 2)) Bohr magnetons, where n is the number of unpaired electrons.
Nearby elements
| Z | Element | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | Gold | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹ |
| 80 | Mercury | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² |
| 81 | Thallium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p¹ |
| 83 | Bismuth | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³ |
| 84 | Polonium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁴ |
| 85 | Astatine | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁵ |
Questions students ask
What is the electronic configuration of lead?
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p², or in full, 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p². Lead has atomic number 82.
How many electrons are in each shell of lead?
2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4 (K, L, M, N… shells in order).
How many unpaired electrons does lead have?
2 in the ground state, so lead atoms are paramagnetic.
What is the electronic configuration of Pb²⁺?
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s², with 0 unpaired electrons.