Element 30 · Zinc (Zn)
Zinc Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell
The zinc Bohr model shows a zinc atom (Zn) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 4 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 2 in shell N. This page has a rotating 3D zinc Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.
Rotate the zinc Bohr model in 3D
Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.
This is a Bohr model of zinc (Zn), a simplified picture of a single zinc atom. Its nucleus holds 30 protons, and a neutral zinc atom has 30 electrons, arranged around it in 4 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 2 in shell N).
Zinc Bohr model diagram
Zinc electrons per shell
A neutral zinc atom has 30 electrons, one for each of its 30 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 2 in shell N.
| 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 | 2 | 32 | 4s2 |
How the zinc Bohr model builds up, shell by shell
Watch the zinc 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 and 2 in shell N) as it forms.
How to draw the zinc Bohr model
- Find the atomic number. Zinc has atomic number 30, so a neutral atom has 30 protons and 30 electrons.
- Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Zn in it. The 30 protons sit there with the neutrons.
- Draw the shells. Sketch 4 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 and 2 in shell N.
- Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 2 = 30, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.
Atomic data for the zinc Bohr model
The numbers behind the zinc Bohr model, grouped by topic. Radii are in picometres (pm) and energies in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).
Identity
- Symbol
- Zn
- Atomic number
- 30
- Atomic mass
- 65.382 u
- Family
- Transition Metals
- Position
- group 12, period 4
- Block
- d-block
Electron configuration
- Full
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10
- Shorthand
- [Ar] 3d10 4s2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 2
- Outer-shell electrons
- 2 in shell N
Ionisation energies
- I₁
- 906.4
- I₂
- 1733.3
- I₃
- 3833
- I₄
- 5731
- I₅
- 7970
- I₆
- 10400
- I₇
- 12900
- I₈
- 16800
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)
- 142
- Empirical (pm)
- 135
- Covalent (pm)
- 118
- Van der Waals (pm)
- 139
Electronegativity and electron affinity
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.65
- Electron affinity (kJ/mol)
- -58
Oxidation states
+2
Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.
Physical properties, abundance and history of zinc
Bulk properties of zinc, how common it is, who discovered it and some of its compounds.
Physical properties
- Phase at room conditions
- Solid
- Appearance
- Silver-gray
- Melting point
- 419.53°C (692.68 K)
- Boiling point
- 906.85°C (1180 K)
- Density
- 7.14 g/cm³
- Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)
- 116
- Specific heat (J/g·K)
- 0.388
- Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K)
- 25.47
- Heat of fusion (kJ/mol)
- 7.28
- Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol)
- 114.8
Abundance
- Earth's crust (mg/kg)
- 70
- Oceans (mg/L)
- 0.005
Discovery
- Discovered by
- India
- Year
- 1746
Common compounds
- Ziram C6H12N2S4Zn
- Pyrithione Zinc C10H8N2O2S2Zn
- Zinc Zn
- Zinc Acetate C4H6O4Zn
- Zinc Diethyldithiocarbamate C10H20N2S4Zn
- Zineb C4H6N2S4Zn
- Zinc Sulfate O4SZn
- Zinc Oxide OZn
Compounds listed in the PubChem database.
Main isotopes of zinc
Isotopes of zinc share the same 30 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.
| Mass number | Natural abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 49.17 % | stable | 2β⁺ |
| 65 | – | 243.94 d | β⁺ |
| 66 | 27.73 % | stable | – |
| 67 | 4.04 % | stable | – |
| 68 | 18.45 % | stable | – |
| 70 | 0.61 % | stable | 2β⁻ |
α = alpha decay, β⁻ = beta-minus, β⁺ = beta-plus, EC = electron capture, SF = spontaneous fission, p / n = proton / neutron emission.
More about zinc
- Zinc on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full zinc page.
- Transition Metals – all transition metal elements and their trends.
- Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.