Praseodymium Electron Configuration

Interactive reference for praseodymium's electron configuration ([Xe] 4f³ 6s²), orbital box diagram, quantum numbers, and key element data.

Z = 59 Pr Praseodymium

Praseodymium — Electron Configuration

Atomic number 59 · Lanthanide rare-earth metal · Period 6 · f-block

[Xe] 4f³ 6s² 59 electrons Oxidation: +3 (main), +4

Noble-Gas Shorthand

[Xe] 4f³ 6s²

[Xe] = 54-electron xenon core.

Full Configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f³ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²

All 59 electrons across 13 subshells.

Subshell Breakdown

Subshell Type Electrons Capacity Notation In [Xe] core?
1s s, n=1 2 2 1s² [Xe] core
2s s, n=2 2 2 2s² [Xe] core
2p p, n=2 6 6 2p⁶ [Xe] core
3s s, n=3 2 2 3s² [Xe] core
3p p, n=3 6 6 3p⁶ [Xe] core
3d d, n=3 10 10 3d¹⁰ [Xe] core
4s s, n=4 2 2 4s² [Xe] core
4p p, n=4 6 6 4p⁶ [Xe] core
4d d, n=4 10 10 4d¹⁰ [Xe] core
5s s, n=5 2 2 5s² [Xe] core
5p p, n=5 6 6 5p⁶ [Xe] core
4f f, n=4 3 14 4f³ valence
6s s, n=6 2 2 6s² valence
Total 59

Shell Fill Summary

Shell 1 (n=1) — 1s² 2 / 2 (100%)
Shell 2 (n=2) — 2s² 2p⁶ 8 / 8 (100%)
Shell 3 (n=3) — 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 18 / 18 (100%)
Shell 4 (n=4) — 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f³ 21 / 32 (66%)
Shell 5 (n=5) — 5s² 5p⁶ 8 / 50 (16%)
Shell 6 (n=6) — 6s² 2 / 72 (3%)

Shell 4 holds 21 of its 32-electron maximum (4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f³). The 4f subshell is only partially filled, making Pr a classic lanthanide.

Oxidation States Reference

Pr³⁺ Most common

Configuration: [Xe] 4f² — loses 6s² plus one 4f electron. Stable in most aqueous and solid-state compounds (Pr₂O₃, PrCl₃).

Pr⁴⁺ Less common

Configuration: [Xe] 4f¹ — loses three 4f electrons plus 6s². Appears in PrO₂ and certain fluoride compounds; a strong oxidizer in solution.

Summary

Interactive reference for praseodymium's electron configuration ([Xe] 4f³ 6s²), orbital box diagram, quantum numbers, and key element data.

How it works

  1. Electrons fill orbitals according to the Aufbau principle, from lowest to highest energy.
  2. Praseodymium's 59 electrons fill through the 4f subshell, placing it in the f-block (lanthanide series).
  3. The xenon core [Xe] accounts for the first 54 electrons across five complete principal shells.
  4. Three additional electrons enter the 4f subshell (one per orbital, per Hund's rule).
  5. Two electrons complete the 6s subshell, giving the condensed notation [Xe] 4f³ 6s².
  6. Praseodymium most commonly adopts the +3 oxidation state (losing 4f¹ and both 6s electrons), giving a stable [Xe] 4f² core.

Use cases

  • Quick reference for lanthanide electron configuration homework or exam review.
  • Visualize how the 4f subshell fills across the rare-earth series.
  • Understand why praseodymium favors +3 and occasionally +4 oxidation states.
  • Compare praseodymium to neighboring lanthanides cerium (Z=58) and neodymium (Z=60).
  • Teaching aid for f-block chemistry and rare-earth element lessons.
  • Verify quantum numbers for praseodymium electrons when solving spectroscopy problems.
  • Reference for materials scientists studying Pr-doped phosphors and magnets.
  • Study the anomalous 4f-before-5d filling pattern common in lanthanides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu