Rutherfordium (Rf): Electron Configuration and Properties
Rutherfordium (Rf): Electron Configuration and Properties
Electron configuration [Rn] 7s2 5f14 6d2 · group 4 · period 7 · Ar [267]
Rutherfordium data
- Atomic number
- 104
- Relative atomic mass
- [267]
- Group
- 4
- Period
- 7
- Block
- d
- Category
- Transition metal
- Electron configuration
- [Rn] 7s2 5f14 6d2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 10, 2 (K L M N O P Q)
- Valence electrons
- 4
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- no data
- First ionisation energy
- no data
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- no data
- State at room temperature
- Solid
- Melting point
- no data
- Boiling point
- no data
- Density
- no data
- Common oxidation states
- +4
- Discovered
- 1964
Source: PubChem (NIH, accessed 13 Nov 2026); atomic mass: IUPAC standard atomic weight.
Electron shell diagram
K 2 · L 8 · M 18 · N 32 · O 32 · P 10 · Q 2
Orbital diagram (outer electrons)
About rutherfordium
Rutherfordium, symbol Rf, is element number 104 in the periodic table. It is a transition metal in group 4, period 7, d-block. Rutherfordium was first discovered in 1964. It is named after Ernest Rutherford. Its bulk properties have never been measured because only a few atoms have been made; it is expected to be a solid at room temperature.
Rutherfordium electron configuration
The electron configuration of rutherfordium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d2, or in short [Rn] 7s2 5f14 6d2. Its electrons occupy 7 shells: K = 2, L = 8, M = 18, N = 32, O = 32, P = 10, Q = 2. For transition metals, valence electrons are counted from the 7s and 6d subshells: 2 + 2 = 4, matching group 4. For this superheavy element the configuration is a theoretical prediction.
Filling order: 1s2(2) → 2s2(4) → 2p6(10) → 3s2(12) → 3p6(18) → 4s2(20) → 3d10(30) → 4p6(36) → 5s2(38) → 4d10(48) → 5p6(54) → 6s2(56) → 4f14(70) → 5d10(80) → 6p6(86) → 7s2(88) → 5f14(102) → 6d2(104)
Uses of rutherfordium
Rutherfordium has no practical use outside research, because it can only be made a few atoms at a time in particle accelerators.
Safety
Only a handful of rutherfordium atoms have ever been made and they decay very quickly, so it is never handled in an ordinary laboratory.
Other elements in group 4
Frequently asked questions
What is the electron configuration of rutherfordium?
The electron configuration of rutherfordium (Rf, atomic number 104) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s2 5f14 6d2, or [Rn] 7s2 5f14 6d2 in short. By shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 10, 2.
How many valence electrons does rutherfordium have?
Rutherfordium has 4 valence electrons.
Which group and period is rutherfordium in?
Rutherfordium is in group 4, period 7, d-block.
What is the atomic mass of rutherfordium?
Rutherfordium has no stable isotope, so the mass number of its longest-lived isotope, [267], is given.
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