Electron Config of Molybdenum

Molybdenum has atomic number 42, meaning it has 42 electrons to arrange across its orbitals. Its ground-state electron configuration is:

Full notation: `1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d⁵ 5s¹`

Shorthand notation: `[Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹`

This configuration places Molybdenum in the D-block of the periodic table — Period 5, Group 6. 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.

The Aufbau (building-up) principle states electrons fill the lowest available energy subshell first. For Molybdenum (Z=42), the filling stops at the 5s¹ 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, Molybdenum's configuration ends at 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d⁵ 5s¹, with 6 valence electrons in its outermost subshell. Note: Molybdenum is a D-block element, so watch for possible Aufbau anomalies driven by extra stability of half-filled or fully-filled d subshells.

The orbital diagram of Molybdenum expands the configuration 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d⁵ 5s¹ 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. Molybdenum's D-block placement confirms its last orbitals are d type.

The interactive diagram above shows Molybdenum's complete subshell breakdown with orbital boxes for every energy level.

Follow these steps to write Molybdenum's electron configuration from scratch:

Step 1: Identify the atomic number: Z = 42 — 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 42 electrons, your result should match:

> 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d⁵ 5s¹

Shorthand: Replace the preceding noble gas core with its symbol:

> [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹

⚠️ Common mistake: Molybdenum is a d-block element. Verify your d-subshell count carefully — anomalies from expected Aufbau order are possible.

Molybdenum has 6 valence electrons — the electrons in its highest occupied principal energy level.

As a D-block element, Molybdenum'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 |

Molybdenum sits in this table as a d-block element with 6 valence electrons.

→ See Molybdenum's valence electrons in the Bohr model for the shell-based view.

→ Electronegativity of Molybdenum — how strongly it attracts these electrons.