Bismuth Electron Configuration: Everything You Need to Know

Bismuth is a chemical element placed in group 15 and period 6 in the periodic table with the symbol Bi. Let us discuss the electron configuration of Bismuth.

The electronic configuration of Bi is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p3. It is the most metallic and the least abundant element in the nitrogen group. It has 5 electrons in the valence shell. It is a radioactive (though very long-lived) post-transition metal.

This article discusses the electron configuration of Bi along with its diagram, configuration notation, unabbreviated electron configuration, and ground and excited state electron configuration.

How to write Bismuth electron configuration?

The atomic number of Bismuth is 83. The atomic number is equal to the number of electrons it contains in its orbits. The orbital distribution of electrons following among three important rules

  • According to Aufbau principle arrangement of electrons in the orbitals among the increasing order of energies. The order of filling of electrons in the orbital is 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p 5s 4d 5p 4f 5d 6p 7s…. each orbit can accommodate only 2 electrons.
  • According to Paulis-Exclusion principle only two electrons may exist in the same orbital and this electron must have opposite spin for example s orbit can have 2 electros, p orbital can have 6 electrons d orbital can have 10 electrons and f orbital can have 14 electrons.
  • According to Hund’s rule electrons are added to the orbitals in a subshell singly and with parallel spins before orbitals are occupied in pairs. the electronic configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p3

Bismuth electron configuration diagram.

The electron configuration of Bi is expressed in the form of the diagram as given below-

  • s orbit carrying a maximum of 2 electrons
  •    p orbit carrying a maximum of 6 electrons
  • d orbit carrying a maximum of 10 electrons
  •    f orbit carrying a maximum of 14 electrons
Bi orbit Aufbau
Bismuth electron configuration diagram using Aufbau principle

Bismuth electron configuration notation.

The configuration notation of Bi is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3.

Bismuth unabbreviated electron configuration.

Unabbreviated electron configuration of Bi is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p3

Ground state of bismuth electron configuration.

The ground state electron configuration of Bi is [Xe]4f145d106s26p3.

Excited state bismuth electron configuration.

The excited state electronic configuration of Bi is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1 6p3 6d1.

Ground state Bismuth orbital diagram

Ground state electronic configuration of Bi is [Xe] 4 f14 5d10 6s2 6p.3 In ground state, the maximum holding capacity of electrons in first shell is 2, second shell is 8, third shell is 18 and the last shell having 32.

Bismuth orbital diagram20
Ground state bismuth orbital diagram.

Bismuth 3+ electron configuration.

The electron configuration for Bi 3+ is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2.

Conclusion

Bismuth atom is a white solid, easily breakable metal with a slight pinkish tone with an atomic number 83. The symbol for Bismuth is Bi. In the case of Bismuth, it consists of 83 electrons in its orbitals. A few of its commercial ores of bismuth atoms are Sulfides and oxides.

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