Full configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶
In the short form, [Kr] stands for the 36 electrons of krypton, the noble gas before xenon. Only the electrons after it are written out.
Orbital diagram
4d↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓
5s↑↓
5p↑↓↑↓↑↓
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
Xenon is in group 18, period 5, in the p-block. It has a full outer shell, which is why it's so unreactive.
Nearby elements
| Z | Element | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Antimony | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p³ |
| 52 | Tellurium | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴ |
| 53 | Iodine | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁵ |
| 55 | Caesium | [Xe] 6s¹ |
| 56 | Barium | [Xe] 6s² |
| 57 | Lanthanum | [Xe] 5d¹ 6s² |
Questions students ask
What is the electronic configuration of xenon?
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶, or in full, 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶. Xenon has atomic number 54.
How many electrons are in each shell of xenon?
2, 8, 18, 18, 8 (K, L, M, N… shells in order).
How many unpaired electrons does xenon have?
0 in the ground state, so xenon atoms are diamagnetic.