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Element 104 · Rutherfordium (Rf)

Rutherfordium Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The rutherfordium Bohr model shows a rutherfordium atom (Rf) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 7 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q. This page has a rotating 3D rutherfordium Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the rutherfordium Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of rutherfordium (Rf), a simplified picture of a single rutherfordium atom. Its nucleus holds 104 protons, and a neutral rutherfordium atom has 104 electrons, arranged around it in 7 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q).

Rf K · 21s2 L · 82s2 2p6 M · 183s2 3p6 3d10 N · 324s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 O · 325s2 5p6 5d10 5f14 P · 106s2 6p6 6d2 Q · 27s2

Rutherfordium Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of rutherfordium: a nucleus of 104 protons with 104 electrons on 7 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q, each ring labelled with its shell letter.
The rutherfordium 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, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q).

Rutherfordium electrons per shell

A neutral rutherfordium atom has 104 electrons, one for each of its 104 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, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q.

Electrons in each shell of the rutherfordium Bohr model
ShellShell number (n)ElectronsMost it can hold (2n²)Subshells
K1221s2
L2882s2 2p6
M318183s2 3p6 3d10
N432324s2 4p6 4d10 4f14
O532505s2 5p6 5d10 5f14
P610726s2 6p6 6d2
Q72987s2

How the rutherfordium Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the rutherfordium 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, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q) as it forms.

Animation of the rutherfordium Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 104 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 104 electrons on 7 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q).
The rutherfordium 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, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the rutherfordium Bohr model

  1. Find the atomic number. Rutherfordium has atomic number 104, so a neutral atom has 104 protons and 104 electrons.
  2. Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Rf in it. The 104 protons sit there with the neutrons.
  3. Draw the shells. Sketch 7 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.
  4. Place the electrons. Fill from the inside out: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 32 in shell O, 10 in shell P and 2 in shell Q.
  5. Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 32 + 32 + 10 + 2 = 104, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the rutherfordium Bohr model

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

Identity

Symbol
Rf
Atomic number
104
Atomic mass
[267] u
Family
Transition Metals
Position
group 4, period 7
Block
d-block

Electron configuration

Full
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d2
Shorthand
[Rn] 5f14 6d2 7s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 10, 2
Outer-shell electrons
2 in shell Q

Ionisation energies

I₁
580

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

Oxidation states

+4

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of rutherfordium

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

Physical properties

Melting point
2126.85°C (2400 K)
Boiling point
5526.85°C (5800 K)
Density
23.2 g/cm³

Discovery

Discovered by
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
Year
1964

Common compounds

  • Rutherfordium Rf
  • (2S)-N-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-methanidyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-phenylpyrrolidine-1-carboxamide;rutherfordium C22H21F6N2ORf-
  • (3R)-1,1-difluorohept-6-ene-1,3-diol;rutherfordium C7H12F2O2Rf
  • (Phenyl-lambda3-iodanyl) trifluoromethanesulfonate;rutherfordium C7H6F3IO3RfS
  • rutherfordium;(3S)-1,1,3-trifluorohept-6-en-1-ol C7H11F3ORf
  • (3E)-1,1-difluorohepta-3,6-dien-1-ol;rutherfordium C7H10F2ORf
  • Propan-1-amine;rutherfordium C3H8NRf-
  • Bromoethene;rutherfordium C2H2BrRf-

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of rutherfordium

Isotopes of rutherfordium share the same 104 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of rutherfordium: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass numberNatural abundanceHalf-lifeDecay
257–5 sα, β⁺, SF
259–2.63 sα, β⁺, SF
261–2.1 sSF, α
263–11 minSF, α
265–1.6 minSF, α
267–2.5 hSF

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

More about rutherfordium