Full configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s²
In the short form, [Xe] stands for the 54 electrons of xenon, the noble gas before tungsten. Only the electrons after it are written out.
Orbital diagram
4f↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓
5d↑↑↑↑
6s↑↓
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
Tungsten is in group 6, period 6, in the d-block. It has 4 unpaired electrons in the ground state, so the atom is paramagnetic.
Nearby elements
| Z | Element | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Lutetium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s² |
| 72 | Hafnium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d² 6s² |
| 73 | Tantalum | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s² |
| 75 | Rhenium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁵ 6s² |
| 76 | Osmium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁶ 6s² |
| 77 | Iridium | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁷ 6s² |
Questions students ask
What is the electronic configuration of tungsten?
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s², or in full, 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s². Tungsten has atomic number 74.
How many electrons are in each shell of tungsten?
2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2 (K, L, M, N… shells in order).
How many unpaired electrons does tungsten have?
4 in the ground state, so tungsten atoms are paramagnetic.