Palladium (Pd)
Element 46 · transition metal · group 10, period 5
Palladium is element 46, a transition metal in group 10 and period 5. Its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10. The shells fill 2, 8, 18, 18. Courses differ here. Counting only the outer s subshell gives 8; counting the inner d subshell with it gives 18, which is the group number. It commonly forms ions with a charge of +2, +4.
- 46 protons
- 8/18 valence e−
- +2, +4
- d-block
Properties
| Atomic number | 46 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Pd |
| Standard atomic weight | 106.42 u |
| Group | 10 |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | d-block |
| Category | transition metal |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Kr] 4d10 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18 |
| Valence electrons | 8 or 18 |
| Common ionic charge | +2, +4 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.2 |
| Protons / electrons | 46 / 46 |
Electron configuration of palladium
Orbitals fill from the lowest energy upward. Writing that out for palladium gives 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10, which is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 in plain text.
Everything up to Kr is the same as in that noble gas, so it is usually abbreviated to [Kr] 4d10. The part outside the bracket is what does the chemistry.
| Subshell | Electrons | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1s | 2 | 2 |
| 2s | 2 | 2 |
| 2p | 6 | 6 |
| 3s | 2 | 2 |
| 3p | 6 | 6 |
| 3d | 10 | 10 |
| 4s | 2 | 2 |
| 4p | 6 | 6 |
| 4d | 10 | 10 |
Palladium ion charge
Palladium commonly forms ions with a charge of +2, +4.
Common questions
How many valence electrons does palladium have?
There is no single agreed answer for palladium. Courses differ here. Counting only the outer s subshell gives 8; counting the inner d subshell with it gives 18, which is the group number. Check which convention your course uses before answering.
What is the electron configuration of palladium?
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10, or [Kr] 4d10 written from the previous noble gas. Orbitals fill lowest energy first, but palladium is one of the elements that breaks that order - a half-filled or filled d subshell is stable enough to be worth borrowing an s electron for.
What is the charge of palladium?
Palladium commonly forms ions with a charge of +2, +4. Transition metals have several accessible oxidation states, which is why more than one charge is listed.
How many protons, electrons and neutrons does palladium have?
A neutral palladium atom has 46 protons and 46 electrons. Its standard atomic weight is 106.42, so the most common isotope has about 60 neutrons.
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