Element 83 · Bismuth (Bi)

Bismuth Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The bismuth Bohr model shows a bismuth atom (Bi) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 6 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P. This page has a rotating 3D bismuth Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the bismuth Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of bismuth (Bi), a simplified picture of a single bismuth atom. Its nucleus holds 83 protons, and a neutral bismuth atom has 83 electrons, arranged around it in 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P).

Bi K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 324s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ O · 185s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ P · 56s² 6p³

Bismuth Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of bismuth: a nucleus of 83 protons with 83 electrons on 6 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The bismuth Bohr model drawn flat: each ring is a shell, labelled with its letter, and every dot is an electron (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P).

Bismuth electrons per shell

A neutral bismuth atom has 83 electrons, one for each of its 83 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P.

Electrons in each shell of the bismuth Bohr model
Shell	Shell number (n)	Electrons	Most it can hold (2n²)	Subshells
K	1	2	2	1s²
L	2	8	8	2s² 2p⁶
M	3	18	18	3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰
N	4	32	32	4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴
O	5	18	50	5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰
P	6	5	72	6s² 6p³

How the bismuth Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the bismuth Bohr model come together: the nucleus first, then each shell in turn, from the innermost outwards, with its electrons joining the ring. The legend names every shell and counts its electrons, so you can read off the arrangement (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P) as it forms.

Animation of the bismuth Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 83 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 83 electrons on 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P). — The bismuth Bohr model built up in six seconds: the nucleus first, then each shell with its electrons, ending with 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the bismuth Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Bismuth has atomic number 83, so a neutral atom has 83 protons and 83 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Bi in it. The 83 protons sit there with the neutrons.
Draw the shells. Sketch 6 shells as rings around the nucleus. A shell holds at most 2n² electrons: 2 in the first, 8 in the second, 18 in the third and 32 in the fourth.
Place the electrons. Fill from the inside out: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 18 in shell O and 5 in shell P.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 32 + 18 + 5 = 83, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the bismuth Bohr model

The numbers behind the bismuth Bohr model, grouped by topic. Radii are in picometres (pm) and energies in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).

Identity

Symbol: Bi
Atomic number: 83
Atomic mass: 208.9804 u
Family: Post-Transition Metals
Position: group 15, period 6
Block: p-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p³
Shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5
Outer-shell electrons: 5 in shell P

Ionisation energies

I₁: 703
I₂: 1610
I₃: 2466
I₄: 4370
I₅: 5400
I₆: 8520

Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). A sharp jump means the next electron comes from an inner shell.

Atomic radii

Calculated (pm): 143
Empirical (pm): 160
Covalent (pm): 151
Van der Waals (pm): 207

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 2.02
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 90.924

Oxidation states

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of bismuth

Bulk properties of bismuth, how common it is, who discovered it and some of its compounds.

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Lustrous silver
Melting point: 271.55°C (544.7 K)
Boiling point: 1563.85°C (1837 K)
Density: 9.78 g/cm³
Thermal conductivity (W/m·K): 7.9
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.122
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 25.52
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 11
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 172

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 0.009
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Claude François Geoffroy
Year: 1753

Common compounds

Bismuth Bi
Bismuth Subsalicylate C7H5BiO4
Triphenylbismuth C18H15Bi
Bismuth Subgallate C7H5BiO6
Bismuth Citrate C6H5BiO7
Bismuth Cation Bi+3
Bismuth nitrate BiN3O9
Bismuth oxychloride BiClO

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of bismuth

Isotopes of bismuth share the same 83 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of bismuth: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
205	–	14.91 d	β⁺
206	–	6.243 d	β⁺
207	–	31.22 y	β⁺
208	–	368 ky	β⁺
209	100 %	20.1 Ey	α
210	–	5.012 d	β⁻, α

α = alpha decay, β⁻ = beta-minus, β⁺ = beta-plus, EC = electron capture, SF = spontaneous fission, p / n = proton / neutron emission.

More about bismuth

Bismuth on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full bismuth page.
Post-Transition Metals – all post-transition metal elements and their trends.
Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.