Lead Electron Configuration

Reference for lead's electron configuration ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²), orbital box diagram, valence electrons, and key atomic data for Pb (Z=82).

Z = 82 Pb Lead

Lead — Electron Configuration

Atomic number 82 · Post-transition metal · Period 6, Group 14 · p-block

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p² [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p² 82 electrons 4 valence e⁻ Normal Aufbau

Subshell Breakdown

Subshell Type Electrons Max Capacity Notation
1s s orbital, shell n=1 2 2 1s²
2s s orbital, shell n=2 2 2 2s²
2p p orbitals, shell n=2 6 6 2p⁶
3s s orbital, shell n=3 2 2 3s²
3p p orbitals, shell n=3 6 6 3p⁶
3d d orbitals, shell n=3 10 10 3d¹⁰
4s s orbital, shell n=4 2 2 4s²
4p p orbitals, shell n=4 6 6 4p⁶
4d d orbitals, shell n=4 10 10 4d¹⁰
4f f orbitals, shell n=4 14 14 4f¹⁴
5s s orbital, shell n=5 2 2 5s²
5p p orbitals, shell n=5 6 6 5p⁶
5d d orbitals, shell n=5 10 10 5d¹⁰
6s s orbital, shell n=6 2 2 6s²
6p p orbitals, shell n=6 (valence) 2 6 6p²
Total 82

Full Configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²

All subshells written explicitly.

Noble-Gas Shorthand

[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²

[Xe] = 1s²…5p⁶ (xenon core, Z=54, 54 electrons).

Valence Electrons

6s² 6p²

4 valence electrons — forms Pb²⁺ and Pb⁴⁺ ions.

Shell Fill Summary

Shell 1 (n=1) — 1s² 2 / 2 electrons (100%)
Shell 2 (n=2) — 2s² 2p⁶ 8 / 8 electrons (100%)
Shell 3 (n=3) — 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 18 / 18 electrons (100%)
Shell 4 (n=4) — 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 32 / 32 electrons (100%)
Shell 5 (n=5) — 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 18 / 50 electrons (36%)
Shell 6 (n=6) — 6s² 6p² 4 / 50 electrons (8%)

Shell 6 can hold up to 72 electrons (6s + 6p + 6d + 6f + 6g + 6h). Lead occupies only 4 slots — 6s² 6p². The next element, bismuth (Z=83), adds one electron to 6p to reach 6p³.

Group 14 — ns² np² Pattern

Element Z Noble-gas configuration Valence
Carbon (C) 6 [He] 2s² 2p² 4
Silicon (Si) 14 [Ne] 3s² 3p² 4
Germanium (Ge) 32 [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p² 4
Tin (Sn) 50 [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p² 4
Lead (Pb) 82 [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p² 4

All Group 14 elements share the ns² np² valence pattern. The stable +2 oxidation state dominates more strongly down the group — Pb²⁺ is the dominant ion for lead due to the inert pair effect, where the 6s² electrons are relativistically contracted and harder to ionize.

Ion Electron Configurations

Pb²⁺ (Plumbous)

[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²

Loses the two 6p electrons. The 6s² pair is retained — the inert pair effect strongly favors this ion in Period 6.

Pb⁴⁺ (Plumbic)

[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰

Loses all four valence electrons (6s² 6p²). Pb⁴⁺ is a strong oxidizer and less stable than Pb²⁺ under normal conditions.

Summary

Reference for lead's electron configuration ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²), orbital box diagram, valence electrons, and key atomic data for Pb (Z=82).

How it works

  1. The Aufbau principle fills subshells in order of increasing energy: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p.
  2. Lead (Z=82) follows normal Aufbau filling — no anomaly like gold or platinum.
  3. The xenon core [Xe] accounts for 54 electrons across shells 1 through 5p.
  4. After [Xe], the 4f subshell fills with 14 electrons, then 5d with 10, then 6s with 2, then 6p with 2.
  5. The shorthand [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p² captures the 28 electrons beyond the noble-gas core.
  6. Four valence electrons (6s² 6p²) allow lead to form Pb²⁺ (losing 6p²) and Pb⁴⁺ (losing all 6s² 6p²) ions.

Use cases

  • Quick reference for chemistry homework on Period 6 p-block elements.
  • Understand how lead forms Pb²⁺ (plumbous) and Pb⁴⁺ (plumbic) oxidation states.
  • Visualize orbital filling for lead using the orbital box diagram.
  • Compare lead's configuration to neighboring elements thallium and bismuth.
  • Teaching aid for the inert pair effect and heavy p-block element chemistry.
  • Verify valence electron count for lead in bonding and Lewis structure problems.
  • Explore how relativistic effects stabilize the 6s² pair in heavy elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by Nham Vu