Electron Configuration of Nihonium (Nh)
Nihonium (Nh, Z = 113) has the electron configuration [Rn] 5f^14 6d^10 7s^2 7p^1, filling 7 shells with 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3 electrons.
Teachers call it "one fact, fully handled" — exactly what this page does for Nihonium. The answer sits at the top in bold; scroll for the working, the shell-by-shell breakdown and the two questions students ask most. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Nihonium page is one click away.
Nihonium: every subshell, one by one
Start from 1s and follow the running total: this is exactly how examiners expect you to build Nihonium's configuration on paper.
| Subshell | Electrons | Total so far |
|---|---|---|
| [Rn] | 0 | 86 |
| 5f | 14 | 100 |
| 6d | 10 | 110 |
| 7s | 2 | 112 |
| 7p | 1 | 113 |
Electrons per shell (K, L, M…)
Grouped by principal quantum number instead of subshell, Nihonium carries 2 in shell 1, 8 in shell 2, 18 in shell 3, 32 in shell 4, 32 in shell 5, 18 in shell 6, 3 in shell 7. The outermost shell holds 3 electrons — the ones that do all the bonding.
How to derive it yourself
Follow the aufbau order (1s → 2s → 2p → 3s → 3p → 4s → 3d → …), pouring 113 electrons into orbitals of capacity 2 (s), 6 (p), 10 (d) and 14 (f) until none remain. Write the filled inner shells as the nearest noble-gas core — for Nihonium that gives [Rn] 5f^14 6d^10 7s^2 7p^1.
Students also ask
How many electron shells does Nihonium have?
Nihonium is in period 7, so its electrons occupy 7 shells, holding 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3 electrons respectively.
How many valence electrons does Nihonium have?
Its outermost shell holds 3 electrons, so Nihonium has 3 valence electrons that take part in bonding.
What is the noble-gas shorthand for Nihonium?
The shorthand form is exactly [Rn] 5f^14 6d^10 7s^2 7p^1.