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Element 54 · Xenon (Xe)

Xenon Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

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

Rotate the xenon Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of xenon (Xe), a simplified picture of a single xenon atom. Its nucleus holds 54 protons, and a neutral xenon atom has 54 electrons, arranged around it in 5 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O).

Xe K · 21s2 L · 82s2 2p6 M · 183s2 3p6 3d10 N · 184s2 4p6 4d10 O · 85s2 5p6

Xenon Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of xenon: a nucleus of 54 protons with 54 electrons on 5 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O, each ring labelled with its shell letter.
The xenon 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, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O).

Xenon electrons per shell

A neutral xenon atom has 54 electrons, one for each of its 54 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O.

Electrons in each shell of the xenon Bohr model
ShellShell number (n)ElectronsMost it can hold (2n²)Subshells
K1221s2
L2882s2 2p6
M318183s2 3p6 3d10
N418324s2 4p6 4d10
O58505s2 5p6

How the xenon Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the xenon 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, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O) as it forms.

Animation of the xenon Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 54 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 54 electrons on 5 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O).
The xenon 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, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the xenon Bohr model

  1. Find the atomic number. Xenon has atomic number 54, so a neutral atom has 54 protons and 54 electrons.
  2. Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Xe in it. The 54 protons sit there with the neutrons.
  3. Draw the shells. Sketch 5 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, 18 in shell N and 8 in shell O.
  5. Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 8 = 54, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the xenon Bohr model

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

Identity

Symbol
Xe
Atomic number
54
Atomic mass
131.2936 u
Family
Noble Gases
Position
group 18, period 5
Block
p-block

Electron configuration

Full
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6
Shorthand
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 18, 8
Outer-shell electrons
8 in shell O

Ionisation energies

I₁
1170.4
I₂
2046.4
I₃
3099.4

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)
108
Covalent (pm)
131
Van der Waals (pm)
216

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling)
2.6
Electron affinity (kJ/mol)
-77

Oxidation states

+2 +4 +6

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of xenon

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

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions
Gas
Appearance
Colorless gas, exhibiting a blue glow when placed in a high voltage electric field
Melting point
-111.75°C (161.4 K)
Boiling point
-108.1°C (165.051 K)
Density
0.005894 g/cm³
Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)
0.006
Specific heat (J/g·K)
0.158
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol)
12.65

Abundance

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

Discovery

Discovered by
William Ramsay
Year
1898

Common compounds

  • Xenon Xe
  • Xenon-133 Xe
  • Xenon Xe-127 Xe
  • Xenon difluoride F2Xe
  • Xenon hexafluoride F6Xe
  • Xenon Xe-129 Xe
  • Xenon tetrafluoride F4Xe
  • Xenon-135 Xe

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of xenon

Isotopes of xenon share the same 54 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of xenon: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass numberNatural abundanceHalf-lifeDecay
12926.401 %stable–
1304.071 %stable–
13121.232 %stable–
13226.909 %stable–
13410.436 %stable2β⁻
1368.857 %2.18 Zy2β⁻

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

More about xenon