74183.84WTungsten
Tungsten (W) — element 74transition metal · group 6, period 6
Tungsten is a chemical element with the symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a transition metal in group 6, period 6 of the periodic table (the d-block), with a standard atomic mass of 183.84 u. At room temperature (25 °C) tungsten is a solid.
💡 Known for: Has the highest melting point of all metals (3422 °C); used in lamp filaments and hard tungsten carbide tools.
# Tungsten properties
| Symbol | W |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 74 |
| Atomic mass | 183.84 u |
| Category | transition metal |
| Group | 6 |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | d-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s² |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d⁴ 6s² |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2 |
| Protons / electrons | 74 / 74 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 3695 K (3421.8 °C, 6191.3 °F) |
| Boiling point | 5828 K (5554.9 °C, 10030.7 °F) |
| Density | 19.25 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.36 |
| First ionization energy | 7.864 eV |
| Atomic radius | 193 pm |
| Discovered | 1783 |
# Electron configuration of tungsten
The electron configuration of tungsten is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s², written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d⁴ 6s². Its 74 electrons fill 6 shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2, so the outermost shell holds 2 electrons.
# Related elements
TaTantalumprevious elementReRheniumnext elementCrChromiumgroup 6MoMolybdenumgroup 6SgSeaborgiumgroup 6ScScandiumtransition metalTiTitaniumtransition metalVVanadiumtransition metalMnManganesetransition metalFeIrontransition metalCoCobalttransition metalNiNickeltransition metalCuCoppertransition metal
# Tungsten FAQ
What is the atomic number of tungsten?
The atomic number of tungsten is 74: every tungsten atom has 74 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is W.
What is the atomic mass of tungsten?
The standard atomic mass of tungsten is 183.84 u.
What is the electron configuration of tungsten?
Tungsten's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s² (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d⁴ 6s²), with 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2 electrons per shell.
Is tungsten a metal?
Yes. Tungsten is a transition metal, one of the metals.
What is the melting point of tungsten?
Tungsten melts at 3695 K (3421.8 °C, 6191.3 °F) and boils at 5828 K (5554.9 °C, 10030.7 °F).
What is tungsten used for / known for?
Has the highest melting point of all metals (3422 °C); used in lamp filaments and hard tungsten carbide tools.