Silver (Ag): electron configuration, atomic mass and facts
Silver (Ag) is element 47 of the periodic table, a transition metal in period 5, group 11. Its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s1, with electrons arranged in shells 2, 8, 18, 18, 1, and its standard atomic weight is 107.87 u.
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▶ Watch Silver’s electrons orbit in the interactive periodic tableSilver at a glance
| Symbol | Ag |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 47 |
| Atomic mass | 107.87 u |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Group | 11 |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | d-block |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s1 |
| Noble-gas shorthand | [Kr] 4d10 5s1 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18, 1 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.93 |
| State at 20 °C | solid |
Where is Silver on the periodic table?
Silver is in period 5, group 11, in the d-block. The period number matches its 5 electron shells, and the block names the subshell its last electrons fill. In the same group, Copper sits directly above it and Gold sits directly below it. Elements in the same column of the d-block often have similar chemistry.
How to work out the electron configuration of Silver
Put 47 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), 4d⁹ (47). Silver is one of the exceptions to this filling order: experiments show its ground state is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s¹ 4d¹⁰ rather than 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d⁹, because the neighbouring subshells are so close in energy and a half-filled or completely filled d subshell is extra stable. In shorthand, [Kr] stands for the 36 electrons of krypton, giving [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹.
How electronegative is Silver?
Silver has a Pauling electronegativity of 1.93, ranking 35 of the 100 elements with a known value (fluorine is highest at 3.98). That is in the middle of the range.
Silver in the virtual lab
Faradium’s chemistry workbench includes these chemicals that contain silver: Silver nitrate. Open the Chemistry Lab to experiment with them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the electron configuration of Silver?
The electron configuration of Silver (Ag) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s1. In noble-gas shorthand it is written [Kr] 4d10 5s1.
How many electrons does Silver have in each shell?
Silver has 47 electrons arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 1.
What is the atomic mass of Silver?
The standard atomic weight of Silver is 107.87 u, so one mole of Silver atoms has a mass of about 107.87 g.
Is Silver a metal?
Yes. Silver is a transition metal.
Explore nearby elements
More transition metals: Molybdenum, Technetium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Cadmium. See all elements on the periodic table.