Osmium Electron Configuration (Explained for Beginners)

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Osmium is in the d-block of the periodic table and is a member of group 8. In this article, let us examine the electron configuration of Osmium.

Osmium is an atomic number 76 chemical element with the symbol Os. It is a platinum group transition metal that is hard, brittle, and bluish-white. Osmium with a density of 22.59 g/cm3 naturally occurring element. Osmium has an electron configuration [Xe]4f14 5d6 6s2 and a Simple Hexagonal solid-state structure.

Let us look at some information regarding Osmium’s electron configuration, such as its orbital diagram and ground state electronic configuration.

How to write Osmium electron configuration?

There are 76 electrons in the Os atom. There are two approaches to setting up the electron configuration of an osmium atom.

Step 1: By using the Aufbau principle(orbital electron configuration)

Following the Aufbau principle, all electron-filled atomic orbitals are in a particular energy order sequence that adheres to the (n+l) rule, where n is the main quantum number (refers to 1, 2, etc.) and l is the azimuthal quantum number (refers to s,p etc.). 

Step 2: Hund’s maximum multiplicity (Follow the rule of electron filling in each orbital)

According to Hund’s maximum multiplicity rule, higher spin multiplicities are more stable. For instance, the s-orbital contains two electrons, the p-orbital contains a net of six electrons, and the d-orbital contains a net of ten electrons.

Step 3: Pauli exclusion principle (Arrangement of electrons in all the orbitals)

Pauli exclusion principle states that the electron pairing then proceeds in the opposite direction. Osmium would have a  maximum of 4 unpaired electrons(5d ⇅⇅). The electronic setup that results is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 4f14 5d6 6s2.

Osmium electron configuration diagram

Osmium atoms have 76 electrons, 6 of which are valence electrons and total energy levels-6 and follow electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 4f14 5d6 6s2. The electronic configuration diagram of osmium is shown below:

osmium electron configuration
Osmium Electronic Configuration Diagram

Osmium electron configuration notation

The Osmium electron configuration notation is [Xe]4f14 5d6 6s2.

In the osmium electronic configuration notation, 76 electrons are present, of which 54 are from the xenon gas configuration and the remaining are distributed as 14 electrons in 4f, 10 electrons in 5d, and 2 electrons in 6s.

Osmium unabbreviated electron configuration

Osmium atom’s complete ground state electronic configuration is the Unabbreviated electronic configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d6 6s2.  

Ground state Osmium electron configuration

Osmium’s ground state electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d6 6s2or [Xe]6s2 4f14 5d6.

Excited state of Osmium electron configuration

The Osmium Electronic Configuration is in its excited state: [Xe]6s0 4f14 5d6. 

Ground state Osmium orbital diagram

An orbital diagram of the Osmium nucleus shows electrons filling the shells around the nucleus in its ground state. The orbital diagram of Osmium is:

osmium electron configuration
Image Credits: Osmium Ground State by
Pumbaa (CC BY-SA 2.0 UK)

Osmium 2+ electron configuration

The +2 oxidation state of the Osmium atom is [Xe]4f14 5d6 represented by the symbol Os+2.

Osmium 3+ electron configuration

The +3 oxidation state of the Osmium atom is [Xe]4f14 5d5 represented by the symbol Os+3.

Osmium 4+ electron configuration

The +4 oxidation state of the Osmium atom is [Xe]4f14 5d4 represented by the symbol Os+4.

Conclusion

Osmium is a metal that has 76 electrons in its orbitals. The number of electrons occupied in various orbitals with varied energies is used to describe the electronic structure of osmium. The element occurs mostly in platinum ores and is used in alloys.

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