Zinc (Zn)
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s². 0 unpaired electrons, period 4, group 12, d block.
Element or ion
Type a symbol, a name or an atomic number, add a charge such as Fe3+ or Cl-, or tap an element in the table. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.
ZnZinc, Z = 30, 65.38 u
[Ar] 3d10 4s2
In full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²
- Blockd block
- Period4
- Group12
- Valence12
- Unpaired0
- MagneticDia
Last electron 3d
- n3shell
- l2d subshell
- m+2orbital
- s−½spin down
Step by step
- Zinc has 30 electrons.
- Fill in (n + l) order: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰.
- Write the subshells in order of n: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s².
- Replace the argon core with [Ar]: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
Zinc (Zn): the numbers
| Atomic number | 30 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 65.38 u |
| Period | 4 |
| Group | 12 |
| Block | d block |
| Valence electrons | 12 |
| Unpaired electrons | 0 |
| Magnetic | diamagnetic |
| Last electron | 3d: n = 3, l = 2, m = +2, s = −1/2 |
Zinc (Zn): quick answers
What is the electronic configuration of zinc?
Zinc has 30 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s², or [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² in short.
How many unpaired electrons does zinc have?
Zinc has 0 unpaired electrons, so it is diamagnetic. Put one electron in each box of a subshell before pairing (Hund’s rule) to see them.
What are the quantum numbers of the last electron of zinc?
The last electron goes into 3d: n = 3, l = 2, m = +2, s = −1/2. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.