Radon Electron Configuration: (Explained for Beginners)

In a periodic table, there are 118 identified elements. In this article, we are discussing about one such element.

Radon(Rn) is a nobel gas element present in group eighteen of the table, having very low reactivity and mass number of 222. Rn is radioactive and decays to series of unstable isotopes. In 1899, it was discovered by Rutherford and Owens during radioactive experiments. Oxidation state of +2 is known in Rn.

Let us cover the interesting facts about electron density and distribution of electrons in Radon.

How to write Radon Electron Configuration?

The atomic number of Radon is 86. The electronic structure is defined by certain rules. These are as follows:

Step 1: Find the energy order of the orbitals

Electrons should be filled in the atomic orbitals in increasing order of energies, where the Aufbau principle observes the (n+l) rule, n= Prinicipal quantum number and l= Azimuthal quantum number. For Radon, the energy order is: 1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s < 3d < 4p < 5s < 4d < 5p < 6s < 4f < 5d < 6p

Step 2: Electrons are filled in each orbitals

For each orbital, only 2 electrons can reside with varied spins, as per Pauli’s exclusion principle. As such, s-orbital holds 2 electrons, p orbitals hold net 6 electrons and f-orbitals hold 14 electrons. Electrons should be written in superscripts in the orbital ordering notation as per conventions.

Step 3: Electrons are arranged in all the orbitals

Every orbital of the sub-shell or energy level must be filled before pairing electrons, as per Hund’s rule.The resultant electronic configuration is:1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p⁶

Radon Electron Configuration Diagram

Rn has the following orbital features:

• Total orbitals of all sub-levels- 44
• Total energy levels- 15

Radon Electron Configuration Notation

Rn₈₆ Electronic Configuration- [Xe₅₄] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p⁶.

Since Rn itself is a Nobel element, the smaller electron configuration notation is defined with respect to the previous Nobel gas element of the table.

Radon Unabbreviated Electron Configuration

All the orbitals and respective sub-shells are shown below in the unabbreviated form:

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

Ground State Radon Electron Configuration

Electron configuration of ground state of Radon remains undisturbed and stands as:1s² 2s² 2p_x² 2p_y² 2p_z² 3s² 3p_x² 3p_y² 3p_z² 4s² 3d_xy² 3d_yz² 3d_xz² 3d²_x2-y2 3d_z2² 4p_x² 4p_y² 4p_z² 5s² 4d_xy² 4d_yz² 4d_xz¹ 4d¹_x2-y2 4d_z2¹ 5p_x² 5p_y² 5p_z² 6s² 4f²_xz² 4f²_yz² 4f²_xyz 4f²_z(x²_-y²₎ 4f²_z³ 4f²_y(3x²_–y²₎ 4f²_x(x²_–3y²₎ 5d_xy² 5d_yz² 5d_xz² 5d²_x2-y2 5d_z2² 6p_x² 6p_y² 6p_z²

• 1s orbital with least energy is filled first, followed by 2s and p orbital series till 3p orbitals.
• Though 3d has lower n=3, 4s gets filled before 3d as it has lower energy by (n+l) formula.
• This concept is also applied in 5s-4f ordering where 5s is filled before 4d.
• The five orbitals of d are mentioned as per the orbital axes and same goes for the complex f-orbitals.
• The principal quantum number n increases as we go up the energy series and finally the electron configuration ends at 6p orbital.

Excited State of Radon Electron Configuration

One combination: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p_x¹ 6p_y² 6p_z² 7s¹ .On exciting the atom, the electron jumps from a lower energy orbital to a higher energy orbital. Other Possible configurations are as follows:

• 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p_x² 6p_y¹ 6p_z² 7s¹
• 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p_x² 6p_y² 6p_z¹ 7s¹

Ground State of Radon Orbital Diagram

In the ground state of Rn, the electrons are arranged following the classical rules of filling according to the increasing order of energies.

Radon Condensed Electron Configuration

Radon condensed electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p⁶. It is the same as the ground state configuration, with the electrons following all the rules.

Conclusion

Radon,a nobel element, decays to very short-lived products. Though it was earlier used in radiation process, the monoatomic element has extreme radioactive hazards. Thus, the electronic structure explains what a nobel gas configuration looks like.

Also Read:

• Americium electron configuration
• Germanium electron configuration
• Seaborgium electron configuration
• Mercury electron configuration
• Lithium electron configuration
• Strontium electron configuration
• Neptunium electron configuration
• Meitnerium electron configuration
• Hassium electron configuration
• Ytterbium electron configuration

Neeloy Bhattacharya

Hello….Neeloy here! I have pursued a Master’ in Chemistry and am currently a Subject Matter Expert in this community. Science and reasoning feed my curiosity and I love to express whatever I see, in my words. Quiz addict. Let’s connect at LinkedIn.