Full configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d² 5s²
In the short form, [Kr] stands for the 36 electrons of krypton, the noble gas before zirconium. 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
Zirconium is in group 4, period 5, in the d-block. It has 2 unpaired electrons in the ground state, so the atom is paramagnetic.
Configuration of zirconium ions
| Ion | Configuration | Unpaired | Moment (BM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zr⁴⁺ | [Kr] | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Rubidium | [Kr] 5s¹ |
| 38 | Strontium | [Kr] 5s² |
| 39 | Yttrium | [Kr] 4d¹ 5s² |
| 41 | Niobium | [Kr] 4d⁴ 5s¹ |
| 42 | Molybdenum | [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹ |
| 43 | Technetium | [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s² |
Questions students ask
What is the electronic configuration of zirconium?
[Kr] 4d² 5s², or in full, 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d² 5s². Zirconium has atomic number 40.
How many electrons are in each shell of zirconium?
2, 8, 18, 10, 2 (K, L, M, N… shells in order).
How many unpaired electrons does zirconium have?
2 in the ground state, so zirconium atoms are paramagnetic.
What is the electronic configuration of Zr⁴⁺?
[Kr], with 0 unpaired electrons.