Element 74 · Tungsten (W)

Tungsten Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The tungsten Bohr model shows a tungsten atom (W) 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, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P. This page has a rotating 3D tungsten Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the tungsten Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of tungsten (W), a simplified picture of a single tungsten atom. Its nucleus holds 74 protons, and a neutral tungsten atom has 74 electrons, arranged around it in 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P).

W K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 324s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ O · 125s² 5p⁶ 5d⁴ P · 26s²

Tungsten Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of tungsten: a nucleus of 74 protons with 74 electrons on 6 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The tungsten 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, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P).

Tungsten electrons per shell

A neutral tungsten atom has 74 electrons, one for each of its 74 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, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P.

Electrons in each shell of the tungsten 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	12	50	5s² 5p⁶ 5d⁴
P	6	2	72	6s²

How the tungsten Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the tungsten 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, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P) as it forms.

Animation of the tungsten Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 74 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 74 electrons on 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P). — The tungsten 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, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the tungsten Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Tungsten has atomic number 74, so a neutral atom has 74 protons and 74 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write W in it. The 74 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, 12 in shell O and 2 in shell P.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 32 + 12 + 2 = 74, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the tungsten Bohr model

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

Identity

Symbol: W
Atomic number: 74
Atomic mass: 183.841 u
Family: Transition Metals
Position: group 6, period 6
Block: d-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴
Shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s²
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2
Outer-shell electrons: 2 in shell P

Ionisation energies

I₁: 770
I₂: 1700

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): 193
Empirical (pm): 135
Covalent (pm): 137

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 2.36
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 78.76

Oxidation states

+4 +6

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of tungsten

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

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Grayish white, lustrous
Melting point: 3421.85°C (3695 K)
Boiling point: 5929.85°C (6203 K)
Density: 19.25 g/cm³
Thermal conductivity (W/m·K): 173
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.132
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 24.27
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 35
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 824

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 1.25
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Year: 1783

Common compounds

Tungsten W
Sodium tungstate Na2O4W
Tungsten oxide (WO3) O3W
Lead tungsten oxide (PbWO4) O4PbW
tungsten carbide (WC) CW-
Sodium Tungstate Dihydrate H4Na2O6W
Cadmium tungstate CdO4W-6
Tungsten disulfide S2W

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of tungsten

Isotopes of tungsten share the same 74 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of tungsten: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
180	0.12 %	1.59 Ey	α, 2β⁺
181	–	120.956 d	EC
182	26.5 %	stable	α
183	14.31 %	stable	α
184	30.64 %	stable	α
186	28.43 %	stable	2β⁻, α

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

More about tungsten

Tungsten on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full tungsten page.
Transition Metals – all transition metal elements and their trends.
Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.