Zinc (Zn)

Element 30 · transition metal · group 12, period 4

Electron shells, 2 + 8 + 18 + 2. The outer shell is highlighted - it is the only one that takes part in bonding.

Zinc is element 30, a transition metal in group 12 and period 4. Its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d10 4s2. The shells fill 2, 8, 18, 2. Courses differ here. Counting only the outer s subshell gives 2; counting the inner d subshell with it gives 12, which is the group number. It commonly forms ions with a charge of +2.

30 protons
2/12 valence e−
+2
d-block

Properties

Atomic number	30
Symbol	Zn
Standard atomic weight	65.38 u
Group	12
Period	4
Block	d-block
Category	transition metal
Electron configuration	1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²
Noble-gas notation	[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 18, 2
Valence electrons	2 or 12
Common ionic charge	+2
Electronegativity (Pauling)	1.65
Protons / electrons	30 / 30

Electron configuration of zinc

Orbitals fill from the lowest energy upward. Writing that out for zinc gives 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s², which is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 in plain text.

Everything up to Ar is the same as in that noble gas, so it is usually abbreviated to [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s². 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

Zinc ion charge

Zinc commonly forms ions with a charge of +2.

Common questions

How many valence electrons does zinc have?

There is no single agreed answer for zinc. Courses differ here. Counting only the outer s subshell gives 2; counting the inner d subshell with it gives 12, which is the group number. Check which convention your course uses before answering.

What is the electron configuration of zinc?

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2, or [Ar] 3d10 4s2 written from the previous noble gas. Orbitals fill lowest energy first.

What is the charge of zinc?

Zinc commonly forms ions with a charge of +2. Transition metals have several accessible oxidation states, which is why more than one charge is listed.

How many protons, electrons and neutrons does zinc have?

A neutral zinc atom has 30 protons and 30 electrons. Its standard atomic weight is 65.38, so the most common isotope has about 35 neutrons.

See the ionic charge of every element →

How this page was produced. The configuration was built by filling orbitals in energy order from atomic number 30 alone, not looked up. The shell counts, the valence count and the charge all follow from it. Nothing on this page is written per element.