Lead (Pb): electron configuration, atomic mass and facts
Lead (Pb) is element 82 of the periodic table, a post-transition metal in period 6, group 14. Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2, with electrons arranged in shells 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4, and its standard atomic weight is 207.2 u.
💡 A dense, soft metal. Its toxicity ended its use in paint and petrol.
▶ Watch Lead’s electrons orbit in the interactive periodic tableLead at a glance
| Symbol | Pb |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 82 |
| Atomic mass | 207.2 u |
| Category | Post-transition metal |
| Group | 14 |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | p-block |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p2 |
| Noble-gas shorthand | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4 |
| Outer-shell electrons | 4 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.33 |
| State at 20 °C | solid |
Experiments with lead
Where is Lead on the periodic table?
Lead is in period 6, group 14, in the p-block. The period number matches its 6 electron shells, and the block names the subshell its last electrons fill. In the same group, Tin sits directly above it and Flerovium sits directly below it. Elements in one group have the same number of outer-shell electrons (4 here), which is why they react in similar ways.
How to work out the electron configuration of Lead
Put 82 electrons into subshells in order of rising energy, filling each before starting the next: 1s² (2), 2s² (4), 2p⁶ (10), 3s² (12), 3p⁶ (18), 4s² (20), 3d¹⁰ (30), 4p⁶ (36), 5s² (38), 4d¹⁰ (48), 5p⁶ (54), 6s² (56), 4f¹⁴ (70), 5d¹⁰ (80), 6p² (82). In shorthand, [Xe] stands for the 54 electrons of xenon, giving [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p².
How electronegative is Lead?
Lead has a Pauling electronegativity of 2.33, ranking 14 of the 100 elements with a known value (fluorine is highest at 3.98). That is in the middle of the range.
Lead in the virtual lab
Faradium’s chemistry workbench includes these chemicals that contain lead: Lead(II) nitrate. Open the Chemistry Lab to experiment with them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the electron configuration of Lead?
The electron configuration of Lead (Pb) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p2. In noble-gas shorthand it is written [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2.
How many electrons does Lead have in each shell?
Lead has 82 electrons arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4. It has 4 electrons in its outer shell.
What is the atomic mass of Lead?
The standard atomic weight of Lead is 207.2 u, so one mole of Lead atoms has a mass of about 207.2 g.
Is Lead a metal?
Yes. Lead is a post-transition metal.
Explore nearby elements
More post-transition metals: Tin, Thallium, Bismuth, Polonium, Nihonium, Flerovium. See all elements on the periodic table.