Lead Electron Configuration: 7 (Easy Step-by-Step Guide)

Lead is represented by the symbol “Pb.” Let us see some important facts about the electronic configuration of Lead in this article.

Lead is a ‘p’ block element. It belongs to the carbon family. It appears as metallic grey. It comes under group 14 and the 6th period of the periodic table. Pb has the atomic number 82 and an atomic weight of 207.2. It is located to the right of the transition metal and to the left of the metalloids.

Let us discuss some important parameters related to lead, such as lead electronic configuration, lead electronic configuration diagram, lead electronic configuration notation, and more such facts in this editorial.

How to write lead electron configuration

Electronic configuration can be written step by step as given below.

Step 1: First step is to find out number of shell.
It is found that lead has 6 electron shell.
Step 2: Second step is to find out orbitals.
S, p, d and f are the four orbitals which hold electrons.
S orbital can hold maximum two electrons, p orbital can hold maximum six electrons and in d and f orbitals 10 and 14 maximum electrons can be filled.
Step 3: In this step orbital are filled with electrons according to Aufbau principle in increasing order of energy level of orbital.
First 1s orbital filled as it has least energy.
Then electron get paired according to Hund’s rule with their spin in opposite direction followed by Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Electron filled in orbital is written in the form of superscript. Example 1s² here 2 in superscript form represent number of electrons.

Thus final configuration of lead can be written as

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶5s²4d¹⁰5p⁶6s²4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6p²

The lead electron configuration diagram

The Lead atom has 82 electrons. The electronic configuration of Lead can be represented by a diagram as shown below.

1s orbital having the least energy and maximum capacity of two electrons, is filled first. Next to this 2s orbital which can hold a maximum of two electrons, is filled.
After this, the electron enters in 2p orbital, which holds a maximum of six electrons.
After the 2p orbital, the 3s orbital is filled, which can hold a maximum of two electrons.
In the same way, after 3s, 3p, and 4s orbital filled.
After 4s, electrons enter the 3d orbital, which can hold a maximum of ten electrons.
In the same way 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s orbital are filled.
Next to 6s, electrons enter the 4f orbital having a maximum capacity of holding fourteen electrons.
After 4f, 5d, and 6p orbitals are filled. So the diagram can be written as below.

notation 1 805 — **The Lead electronic configuration diagram**

Lead electron configuration notation

The electronic configuration of Lead can be shown below.

[Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p²

The electronic configuration notation of Lead consists of a total of 82 electrons. First, 54 electrons are represented by writing the Xenon gas symbol. Next, two electrons in the 6s orbital, fourteen electrons in the 4f orbital, ten electrons in the 5d orbital, and two electrons in the 6p orbital.

Lead unabbreviated electron configuration

Lead unabbreviated electron configuration can be written as below.

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶6s²4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p²

Lead unabbreviated electron configuration contains 82 electrons which can be distributed in a different orbital as below.

1s orbital with two electrons
2s orbital with two electrons.
2p orbital with six electrons.
3s orbital with two electrons.
Six electrons in 3p orbital.
Two electrons in 4s orbital
Ten electrons in 3d orbital
Six electrons in 4p orbital
Two electrons in 5s orbital
Ten electrons in 4d orbital
Six electrons in 5p orbital
Two electrons in 6s orbital
Fourteen electrons in 4f orbital
Ten electrons in 5d orbital
Two electrons in 6p orbital

Ground state lead electron configuration

The ground state is the most stable arrangement. Ground state electronic configuration of Lead can be depicted below.

webp gr — **Lead ground state electronic configuration**

The excited state of lead electron configuration

This arrangement is of higher energy level. In the ground state, the Pb atom contains two unpaired electrons. When the Pb atom gets excited then, it absorbs energy. Due to the gain of this energy, an electron from 6s orbital jump to 6pz orbital. Excited state electronic configuration of Lead can be drawn below.

tempsnip ex webp 1 — **Lead excited state electronic configuration**

Ground state lead orbital diagram

The orbital diagram is formed using Hund’s rule and Pauli Exclusion Principle. As 1s orbital is the least energy orbital and nearest to the nucleus electron enters in 1s orbital first. According to Hund’s rule, first, an electron enters in a clockwise direction, and second, in an anticlockwise direction.

orbit new webp — **Lead ground state orbital diagram**

Lead 2+ electron configuration

The electronic configuration of Pb2+ can be written below.

Pb2+ ⟶ 1s² 2s² 2p⁶3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴5d¹⁰

As we know, in the 6p orbital of Pb, two unpaired electrons are present. Pb donates these two electrons and forms Pb²⁺, which is a cation.

Pb – 2e^– ⟶ Pb²⁺

Conclusion

The electronic configuration is the distribution of electrons in different orbitals, which have different energy levels. In a Lead atom, there are a total of 82 electrons in its orbital. Lead is used in a storage battery. In cable covering, it is also used. It is also used in the alloy.

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Arti Gokhale

Hello everyone I am Arti D. Gokhale. My master’s with a specialization in Organic Chemistry and I graduated with Chemistry, Biology, and Zoology. I have 3 years of work experience in water analysis at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute Nagpur.