Electron Configuration of Antimony (Sb)
Antimony (Sb, Z = 51) has the electron configuration [Kr] 4d^10 5s^2 5p^3, filling 5 shells with 2, 8, 18, 18, 5 electrons.
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Antimony: every subshell, one by one
Read the configuration like a receipt: each line is one subshell, and the running total climbs exactly to 51 electrons — never one more, never one less.
| Subshell | Electrons | Total so far |
|---|---|---|
| [Kr] | 0 | 36 |
| 4d | 10 | 46 |
| 5s | 2 | 48 |
| 5p | 3 | 51 |
Electrons per shell (K, L, M…)
Grouped by principal quantum number instead of subshell, Antimony carries 2 in shell 1, 8 in shell 2, 18 in shell 3, 18 in shell 4, 5 in shell 5. The outermost shell holds 5 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 51 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 Antimony that gives [Kr] 4d^10 5s^2 5p^3.
Students also ask
How many electron shells does Antimony have?
Antimony is in period 5, so its electrons occupy 5 shells, holding 2, 8, 18, 18, 5 electrons respectively.
How many valence electrons does Antimony have?
Its outermost shell holds 5 electrons, so Antimony has 5 valence electrons that take part in bonding.
What is the noble-gas shorthand for Antimony?
The shorthand form is exactly [Kr] 4d^10 5s^2 5p^3.