Nickel (Ni): Bohr Model, Protons, Neutrons & Electrons
Nickel is element number 28, a transition metal in group 10, period 4. Its atom has 28 protons, 30 neutrons and 28 electrons arranged in 4 shells: 2, 8, 16, 2.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in nickel
The atomic number of nickel is 28, so every nickel atom has 28 protons. A neutral atom has the same number of electrons, 28. The number of neutrons depends on the isotope: neutrons = mass number − atomic number. For nickel-58, that is 58 − 28 = 30 neutrons. Nickel has 5 stable isotopes, with 30, 32, 33, 34, 36 neutrons.
How to draw the Bohr model of nickel
- Draw the nucleus and write 28 p⁺ and 30 n⁰ inside it.
- Draw the first shell and put 2 electrons on it (the first shell holds at most 2).
- Draw the second shell and put 8 electrons on it.
- Draw the third shell and put 16 electrons on it.
- Draw the fourth shell and put 2 electrons on it.
- Check: 2 + 8 + 16 + 2 = 28 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, 16, 2) is the one to draw.
Electron configuration
The electron configuration of nickel is [Ar] 4s² 3d⁸. As a transition metal it fills an inner d-subshell, and its common ion is Ni²⁺.
Key facts about nickel
| Symbol | Ni |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 28 |
| Relative atomic mass | 58.693 |
| Group · period · block | group 10 · period 4 · d-block |
| Type | Transition Metal |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Electron shells | 2, 8, 16, 2 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 4s² 3d⁸ |
| Valence electrons | varies (outer shell: 2) |
| Common ion | Ni²⁺ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.91 |
| First ionisation energy | 7.64 eV (737 kJ/mol) |
| Atomic radius (empirical) | 135 pm |
Where nickel sits on the periodic table
Frequently asked questions
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does nickel have?
Nickel has 28 protons and 28 electrons (atomic number 28). Its most common isotope, nickel-58, has 58 − 28 = 30 neutrons.
What is the electron configuration of nickel?
[Ar] 4s² 3d⁸. In shells that is 2, 8, 16, 2.
How many valence electrons does nickel have?
Nickel is a transition metal, so its valence electrons are spread over two shells; its outermost shell holds 2.
Where is nickel on the periodic table?
In group 10, period 4, in the d-block. It is a transition metal.
