Element 82 · Lead (Pb)

Lead Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The lead Bohr model shows a lead atom (Pb) 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 4 in shell P. This page has a rotating 3D lead Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the lead Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of lead (Pb), a simplified picture of a single lead atom. Its nucleus holds 82 protons, and a neutral lead atom has 82 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 4 in shell P).

Pb K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 324s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ O · 185s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ P · 46s² 6p²

Lead Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of lead: a nucleus of 82 protons with 82 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 4 in shell P, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The lead 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 4 in shell P).

Lead electrons per shell

A neutral lead atom has 82 electrons, one for each of its 82 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 4 in shell P.

Electrons in each shell of the lead 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	4	72	6s² 6p²

How the lead Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the lead 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 4 in shell P) as it forms.

Animation of the lead Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 82 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 82 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 4 in shell P). — The lead 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 4 in shell P. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the lead Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Lead has atomic number 82, so a neutral atom has 82 protons and 82 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Pb in it. The 82 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 4 in shell P.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 32 + 18 + 4 = 82, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the lead Bohr model

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

Identity

Symbol: Pb
Atomic number: 82
Atomic mass: 207.21 u
Family: Post-Transition Metals
Position: group 14, period 6
Block: p-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p²
Shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4
Outer-shell electrons: 4 in shell P

Ionisation energies

I₁: 715.6
I₂: 1450.5
I₃: 3081.5
I₄: 4083
I₅: 6640

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): 154
Empirical (pm): 180
Covalent (pm): 144
Van der Waals (pm): 202

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.87
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 34.42

Oxidation states

+2 +4

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of lead

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

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Metallic gray
Melting point: 327.46°C (600.61 K)
Boiling point: 1748.85°C (2022 K)
Density: 11.34 g/cm³
Thermal conductivity (W/m·K): 35.3
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.13
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 26.65
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 4.77
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 177.8

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 14
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Middle East
Year: Ancient

Common compounds

Lead Pb
Lead diacetate C4H6O4Pb
Tetraethyllead C8H20Pb
Lead Chromate CrO4Pb
Lead sulfate O4PbS
Lead chloride Cl2Pb
Lead nitrate N2O6Pb
Lead tetraacetate C8H12O8Pb-2

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of lead

Isotopes of lead share the same 82 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of lead: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
202	–	52.5 ky	EC
204	1.4 %	stable	α
205	–	17 My	EC
206	24.1 %	stable	α
207	22.1 %	stable	α
208	52.4 %	stable	α

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

More about lead

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