Bohrium SPDF Electron Configuration Explained
Bohrium has atomic number 107, meaning it has 107 electrons to arrange across its orbitals. Its ground-state electron configuration is:
Full notation: `1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²`
Shorthand notation: `[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²`
This configuration places Bohrium in the D-block of the periodic table — Period 7, Group 7. The last subshell filled (the d subshell) determines its block.
SPDF notation tells you exactly: which subshell each electron occupies, how many electrons are in it, and the energy level of each group. This is far more detail than the simpler Bohr model, which only shows shell totals.
Aufbau Filling Sequence for Bohrium
The Aufbau (building-up) principle states electrons fill the lowest available energy subshell first. For Bohrium (Z=107), the filling stops at the 7s² subshell.
Standard Aufbau sequence:
1s → 2s → 2p → 3s → 3p → 4s → 3d → 4p → 5s → 4d → 5p → 6s → 4f → 5d → 6p → 7s → 5f → 6d → 7p
After filling, Bohrium's configuration ends at 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s², with 7 valence electrons in its outermost subshell. Note: Bohrium is a D-block element, so watch for possible Aufbau anomalies driven by extra stability of half-filled or fully-filled d subshells.
Orbital Diagram of Bohrium (s, p, d, f)
The orbital diagram of Bohrium expands the configuration 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s² into individual orbital boxes:
- Each s subshell holds max 2 electrons (1 orbital)
- Each p subshell holds max 6 electrons (3 orbitals)
- Each d subshell holds max 10 electrons (5 orbitals)
- Each f subshell holds max 14 electrons (7 orbitals)
Hund's Rule dictates that within any subshell, electrons fill each orbital singly (spin up ↑) before pairing. This avoids electron–electron repulsion. Bohrium's D-block placement confirms its last orbitals are d type.
The interactive diagram above shows Bohrium's complete subshell breakdown with orbital boxes for every energy level.
How to Write Bohrium's Electron Configuration
Follow these steps to write Bohrium's electron configuration from scratch:
Step 1: Identify the atomic number: Z = 107 — this is the total number of electrons to place.
Step 2: Follow the Aufbau sequence, filling the lowest energy subshells first:
> 1s → 2s → 2p → 3s → 3p → 4s → 3d → 4p → ...
Step 3: Apply Hund's Rule inside each subshell — one electron per orbital before pairing begins.
Step 4: Apply the Pauli Exclusion Principle — each orbital holds at most 2 electrons with opposite spins.
Step 5: After filling all 107 electrons, your result should match:
> 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²
Shorthand: Replace the preceding noble gas core with its symbol:
> [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²
⚠️ Common mistake: Bohrium is a d-block element. Verify your d-subshell count carefully — anomalies from expected Aufbau order are possible.
Why Bohrium Matters (Real-World Insight)
🔬 Element Comparison
Bohrium vs Hassium — Key Differences
Although Bohrium (Z=107) and Hassium (Z=108) are adjacent on the periodic table, they behave very differently. Bohrium has 7 valence electrons vs Hassium's 8. Their electronegativity gap is 0.00 — a critical factor in predicting bond polarity when the two interact.
Valence Electrons & D-Block Position
Bohrium has 7 valence electrons — the electrons in its highest occupied principal energy level.
As a D-block element, Bohrium's valence electrons reside in d orbitals and d/f orbitals. These are the only electrons involved in chemical bonding.
| Block | Type | Max Valence e⁻ |
|---|---|---|
| s-block | Groups 1–2 | 1–2 |
| p-block | Groups 13–18 | 3–8 |
| d-block | Groups 3–12 | up to 10 |
| f-block | Lanthanides/Actinides | up to 14 |
Bohrium sits in this table as a d-block element with 7 valence electrons.
→ See Bohrium's valence electrons in the Bohr model for the shell-based view.
→ Electronegativity of Bohrium — how strongly it attracts these electrons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many electrons does Bohrium have?
Bohrium has 107 electrons, matching its atomic number. In a neutral atom, these are balanced by 107 protons in the nucleus.
Q. What is the shell structure of Bohrium?
The electron shell distribution for Bohrium is 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 13, 2. This shows how all 107 electrons are arranged across 7 principal energy levels.
Q. How many valence electrons does Bohrium have?
Bohrium has 7 valence electrons in its outermost shell. These are responsible for its chemical bonding and placement in Group 7.
Q. What is the SPDF configuration of Bohrium?
The full configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶ 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s². This describes the exact subshell occupancy following the Aufbau principle.
Q. What block is Bohrium in?
Bohrium is in the D-block because its highest-energy electrons occupy d orbitals.

