#Cobalt electron configuration series#

Therefore, the number of electrons in neutral atom of Cobalt is 27. The number of electrons in an electrically-neutral atom is the same as the number of protons in the nucleus. It is useful as a gamma ray source because it can be produced in predictable quantities, and for its high radioactive activity simply by exposing natural cobalt to neutrons in a reactor for a given time. It produces two gamma rays with energies of 1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV. Cobalt-60 (60Co or Co-60) is a radioactive metal that is used in radiotherapy. Twenty-two radioisotopes have been characterized: the most stable, 60Co, has a half-life of 5.2714 years Ĭobalt-59 is composed of 27 protons, 32 neutrons, and 27 electrons.Ĭobalt-60 is composed of 27 protons, 33 neutrons, and 27 electrons. Main Isotopes of Cobaltĥ9Co is the only stable cobalt isotope and the only isotope that exists naturally on Earth. Mass numbers of typical isotopes of Cobalt are 59. Isotopes are nuclides that have the same atomic number and are therefore the same element, but differ in the number of neutrons.

The difference between the neutron number and the atomic number is known as the neutron excess: D = N – Z = A – 2Z.įor stable elements, there is usually a variety of stable isotopes. Neutron number plus atomic number equals atomic mass number: N+Z=A. The total number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is called the neutron number of the atom and is given the symbol N. The total electrical charge of the nucleus is therefore +Ze, where e (elementary charge) equals to 1,602 x 10 -19 coulombs. Total number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number of the atom and is given the symbol Z.

Compared to other transition metals, cobalt is a simple metal.Cobalt is a chemical element with atomic number 27 which means there are 27 protons in its nucleus. Humans have found many uses for these metals for thousands of years.

#Cobalt electron configuration series#

If you look at a series of elements, cobalt is in good company with its neighbors iron, nickel, copper and zinc. Cobalt has fifteen electrons in its third shell that holds a maximum of eighteen electrons (as seen in zinc). The fourth row of the periodic table has transition metals ranging from scandium (21) to zinc (30).Ĭobalt is a transition metal in the fourth period that is slowly filling up its third shell with electrons. Remember that the first eight were placed during our trip through the third period/row. For the fourth period/row, all of these electrons build the third shell to a maximum of 18 electrons. This element is one of the transition elements that doesn't place the additional electrons in the outer shell, but in the one underneath. So remember when you look at our breakdown that the electrons aren't always in a nice neat order as shown here. They are found in clouds that can have different shapes that include spheres and dumbbell-like shapes. As you learn more about atomic structure, you will learn that the electrons don't stay in defined areas around the nucleus. The electrons like to be in separate shells/orbitals. In an atom, the electrons spin around the center, also called the nucleus. Each of those colored balls is an electron. If you think this is a little over your head, go back and look at the elements 1-18 that have organizations that are a little more simple. Let's take a look at the arrangements of electrons in the basic elements (left and right sides of the table) of period four and the more complex arrangements of the transition elements (in the middle of the row). You may have an easy way to know the number of electrons in a neutral atom, but the placement of those electrons gets a little more complex. Now we're working with the fourth period/row in the table of elements. It tells you the mass of one atom, how many pieces are inside, and where it should be placed on the periodic table. That box on the left has all of the information you need to know about one element.