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Europium (Eu): Bohr Model, Protons, Neutrons & Electrons

Europium is element number 63, a lanthanide in the f-block (the lanthanide row drawn below the table), period 6. Its atom has 63 protons, 90 neutrons and 63 electrons arranged in 6 shells: 2, 8, 18, 25, 8, 2.

63 p⁺ · 90 n⁰
Bohr model of europium: 63 protons (red) and 90 neutrons (blue) in the nucleus, 63 electrons (gold) in shells 2, 8, 18, 25, 8, 2.

Protons, neutrons and electrons in europium

Le atomic number of europium is 63, so every europium atom has 63 protons. A neutral atom has the same number of electrons, 63. The number of neutrons depends on the isotope: neutrons = mass number − atomic number. For europium-153, that is 153 − 63 = 90 neutrons. Europium has 2 stable isotopes, with 88, 90 neutrons.

How to draw the Bohr model of europium

  1. Draw the nucleus and write 63 p⁺ et 90 n⁰ inside it.
  2. Draw the first shell and put 2 electrons on it (the first shell holds at most 2).
  3. Draw the second shell and put 8 electrons on it.
  4. Draw the third shell and put 18 electrons on it.
  5. Draw the fourth shell and put 25 electrons on it.
  6. Draw the fifth shell and put 8 electrons on it.
  7. Draw the sixth shell and put 2 electrons on it.
  8. Check: 2 + 8 + 18 + 25 + 8 + 2 = 63 electrons, the same as the number of protons.

From potassium onwards the shells don’t simply fill as 2, 8, 8: the fourth shell starts before the third is full, so the real arrangement above (2, 8, 18, 25, 8, 2) is the one to draw.

Electron configuration

The electron configuration of europium is [Xe] 6s² 4f⁷. As a lanthanide it fills an inner f-subshell, and its common ion is Eu³⁺.

Key facts about europium

SymbolEu
Atomic number63
Relative atomic mass151.96
Group · period · blockf-block · period 6
TypeLanthanide
State at 25 °Csolid
Couches électroniques2, 8, 18, 25, 8, 2
Electron configuration[Xe] 6s² 4f⁷
Électrons de valencevaries (outer shell: 2)
Common ionEu³⁺
Electronegativity (Pauling)1.20
First ionisation energy5.67 eV (547 kJ/mol)
Atomic radius (empirical)185 pm

Où europium sits on the periodic table

Foire aux questions

How many protons, neutrons and electrons does europium have?

Europium has 63 protons and 63 electrons (atomic number 63). Its most common isotope, europium-153, has 153 − 63 = 90 neutrons.

What is the electron configuration of europium?

[Xe] 6s² 4f⁷. In shells that is 2, 8, 18, 25, 8, 2.

How many valence electrons does europium have?

Europium is a lanthanide, so its valence electrons are spread over two shells; its outermost shell holds 2.

Where is europium on the periodic table?

In the f-block (the lanthanide row drawn below the table), period 6, in the f-block. It is a lanthanide.

Explorer europium in 3D Build atoms in the Atom Builder