Full configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s¹
In the short form, [Kr] stands for the 36 electrons of krypton, the noble gas before silver. 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.
Why it's an exception
Silver, like copper above it, has a full 4d¹⁰ and one 5s electron.
Configuration of silver ions
| Ion | Configuration | Unpaired | Moment (BM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ag⁺ | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ | 0 | 0.00 |
Moment is the spin-only magnetic moment μ = √(n(n + 2)) Bohr magnetons, where n is the number of unpaired electrons. Positive ions lose electrons from the outermost shell first, so transition metals lose their 4s or 5s electrons before d.
Nearby elements
| Z | Element | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Ruthenium | [Kr] 4d⁷ 5s¹ |
| 45 | Rhodium | [Kr] 4d⁸ 5s¹ |
| 46 | Palladium | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ |
| 48 | Cadmium | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² |
| 49 | Indium | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p¹ |
| 50 | Tin | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p² |
Questions students ask
What is the electronic configuration of silver?
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹, or in full, 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s¹. Silver has atomic number 47.
How many electrons are in each shell of silver?
2, 8, 18, 18, 1 (K, L, M, N… shells in order).
How many unpaired electrons does silver have?
1 in the ground state, so silver atoms are paramagnetic.
What is the electronic configuration of Ag⁺?
[Kr] 4d¹⁰, with 0 unpaired electrons.
Why is silver an exception?
Silver, like copper above it, has a full 4d¹⁰ and one 5s electron.