Full configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²
In the short form, [Ar] stands for the 18 electrons of argon, the noble gas before zinc. 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
Zinc has a completely filled 3d¹⁰ in both the atom and Zn²⁺, so it isn't counted as a typical transition element and its compounds are colourless.
Configuration of zinc ions
| Ion | Configuration | Unpaired | Moment (BM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zn²⁺ | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Cobalt | [Ar] 3d⁷ 4s² |
| 28 | Nickel | [Ar] 3d⁸ 4s² |
| 29 | Copper | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹ |
| 31 | Gallium | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p¹ |
| 32 | Germanium | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p² |
| 33 | Arsenic | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p³ |
Questions students ask
What is the electronic configuration of zinc?
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s², or in full, 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s². Zinc has atomic number 30.
How many electrons are in each shell of zinc?
2, 8, 18, 2 (K, L, M, N… shells in order).
How many unpaired electrons does zinc have?
0 in the ground state, so zinc atoms are diamagnetic.
What is the electronic configuration of Zn²⁺?
[Ar] 3d¹⁰, with 0 unpaired electrons.