Zirconium Electron Configuration:(Explained for Beginners)

The electronic configuration is of electrons around the nucleus of an atom through specific orbitals. Let us discuss about electron configuration of Zirconium.

The electronic configuration of Zirconium is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 5s² 4d² Zirconium is the chemical element with the symbol Zr and the electrons per energy level is 2,8,18,10,2. Zr element has a simple hexagonal structure and situated in group 4 in the periodic table.

We will be discussing some interesting topics about zirconium electron configuration, configuration diagram, notation, unabbreviated electron configuration, ground state and excited state electron configurations etc.

How to write zirconium electron configuration

The electronic configuration of the distribution of electrons is filled in the atomic orbitals as per the rules determined by

• The Aufbau principle states that electrons can be occupying around the orbitals in the order of lower energy orbitals will be first and then higher energy orbitals.

• Pauli – Exclusion principle states that in one orbit maximum of two electrons will be fixed, and they have opposite spin.

• Hund’s rule states that in a given subshell, every orbit will fill one electron at first and then the second electron will be filled in an orbital.
• Thus the electronic configuration of Zr is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 5s² 4d²

Zirconium electron configuration diagram

Zirconium electron configuration is [Kr] 4d² 5s², where the distribution of electrons is as follows

• S orbit can hold 2 electrons maximum,

• P orbit can hold 6 electrons maximum,

• D orbital can hold 10 electrons maximum and

• F orbital can hold 14 electrons maximum

Zirconium electron configuration notation

Zirconium electron configuration notation is [Kr] 4d² 5s²

Zirconium unabbreviated electron configuration

Unabbreviated electron configuration of Zr is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d² 5s²

Ground state zirconium electron configuration

Ground state electronic configuration of Zr is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 5s² 4d².

Excited state of zirconium electron configuration

The excited state electron configuration of Zr is [Kr] 5s¹ 4d³

Ground state zirconium orbital diagram

The ground state electron configuration of Zr is [Kr] 4d² 5s². The orbital diagram is drawn below, which represents the electrons distribution over energy levels as listed below,

• The electron holding capacity of each shell is 2n² so the 1^st energy level K shell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.
• The 2^nd energy level L shell can hold a maximum of 8 electrons.
• The 3^rd energy level M shell can hold a maximum of 18 electrons.
• The 4^th energy level N shell can hold a maximum of 10 electrons.
• The 5^th energy level O shell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.

Zirconium 2⁺ electron configuration

Zr²⁺ electron configuration is [Kr] 5s⁰ 4d² where electrons are removed from the total valance charge by removing electrons first from the S orbital.

Zr⁴⁺ electron configuration

The electronic configuration of Zr ⁴⁺ is [Kr] 5s⁰ 4d⁰ where zirconium atom removes 4 electrons from its valance shell and forms a Zr ⁴⁺ ion.

Zr – 4e^– → Zr⁴⁺

Conclusion

Zirconium is the 40 ^th element and 4^th group in the periodic table. Zirconium has a total of 4 valance electrons in its orbit. Zirconium is a silver–grey transition metal and a very strong element. Zr is malleable and ductile, and it easily forms stable compounds.

Also Read:

• Tellurium electron configuration
• Hassium electron configuration
• Rhenium electron configuration
• Radon electron configuration
• Curium electron configuration
• Chlorine electron configuration
• Iodine electron configuration
• Cerium electron configuration
• Samarium electron configuration
• Oxygen electron configuration