Study Guides/Chemistry/Nickel Electron Configuration
Study Guide · Chemistry

Electron Configuration of Nickel (Ni)

Nickel (Ni) is a transition metal with atomic number 28. Its electron configuration is important for understanding its chemistry, oxidation states, and coordination compounds.

Question (Click to Flip)

How many unpaired electrons does Ni have?

Answer

Ni has 2 unpaired electrons in its 3d subshell (3d⁸ has two singly occupied orbitals by Hund's rule), making it paramagnetic.

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Key Facts

Unlike Cu (Z=29) and Cr (Z=24) which have anomalous configurations due to extra stability of half-filled/fully-filled d orbitals, Ni follows the regular aufbau configuration with [Ar] 3d⁸ 4s².

Electron Configuration of Ni

Atomic Number (Z): 28

Full Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁸ 4s²

Noble Gas (Short) Notation: [Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²

Where [Ar] = 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ (18 electrons of Argon)

Orbital Diagram (3d shell)

The 3d subshell of Ni has 8 electrons arranged as:

  • 3d: ↑↓ | ↑↓ | ↑↓ | ↑ | ↑ (using Hund's rule)
  • 2 unpaired electrons → Paramagnetic

Common Oxidation States

Ni most commonly shows +2 oxidation state (Ni²⁺):

Ni²⁺ configuration: [Ar] 3d⁸ (loses 4s electrons first)

Ni also shows 0 (in carbonyls like Ni(CO)₄) and +3, +4 oxidation states.

Questions and Answers

How many unpaired electrons does Ni have?+

Ni has **2 unpaired electrons** in its 3d subshell (3d⁸ has two singly occupied orbitals by Hund's rule), making it paramagnetic.

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