Tungsten (W)
Element 74 · Transition metal · atomic mass 183.84 u · group 6, period 6
Electron shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2
Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, at 3,422 °C, and nearly the highest density. Its carbide is harder than almost anything except diamond.
No metal stays solid hotter than tungsten — it melts at over 3,400 °C.
- Atomic number
- 74
- Atomic mass
- 183.84 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴
- Group · period · block
- 6 · 6 · d
- Oxidation states
- +4, +6
- Electronegativity
- 2.36 (Pauling)
- Melting point
- 3,422 °C
- Boiling point
- 5,555 °C
- Density
- 19.3 g/cm³
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Appearance
- Greyish-white, very hard metal
- Discovered
- Juan José and Fausto Elhuyar, 1783
74 protons, and 74 electrons when neutral
IUPAC standard atomic weight
Chromium group
What Tungsten is used for
- Tungsten carbide cutting tools and drill bits
- Radiation shielding and counterweights
- Welding electrodes
- Historically, light-bulb filaments
Atomic structure of Tungsten
A neutral tungsten atom has 74 protons and 74 electrons. Its most common isotope carries about 110 neutrons, which is where the mass number 184 comes from. Change the neutron count and you have a different isotope of tungsten; change the proton count and you have a different element entirely.
Those electrons fill shells from the inside out: 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2. In orbital notation that is [Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴. As a d-block element its valence count is variable, which is why it can form compounds in several oxidation states.
3D electron orbitals
See where Tungsten's electrons actually are — a cloud of 26,000 points sampled from the probability density |ψ|², not a cartoon of a lobe.
Where Tungsten sits in the periodic table
The d-block. Multiple stable oxidation states give them coloured compounds, catalytic ability and the strength that makes them the working metals of industry.
- Directly above: Molybdenum — same group, so similar chemistry with a smaller atom.
- Directly below: Seaborgium — same group, one shell larger.
- One proton lighter: Tantalum.
- One proton heavier: Rhenium.
Discovery and naming
Tungsten was discovered by Juan José and Fausto Elhuyar in 1783. Its name comes from Swedish tung sten, "heavy stone"; symbol from wolframite, which is also why its symbol (W) does not match its English name.
Keep exploring
Atomic weight from IUPAC/CIAAW; physical properties from PubChem (US National Library of Medicine). Values that have never been measured are shown as “not measured” rather than estimated.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the atomic mass of Tungsten?
The standard atomic weight of Tungsten is 183.84 u, as published by IUPAC's Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Tungsten have?
Tungsten has 74 protons, because the atomic number is the proton count and that is what makes an atom Tungsten at all. A neutral Tungsten atom has the same number of electrons, 74. The neutron count varies by isotope; the most common one has about 110, since 184 − 74 = 110.
What is the electron configuration of Tungsten?
The electron configuration of Tungsten is [Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴. Its electrons are arranged 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2 across 6 shells.
Is Tungsten a metal?
Yes. Tungsten is classified as a transition metal, on the metallic side of the table.
What group and period is Tungsten in?
Tungsten is in group 6 (the chromium group), period 6, in the d-block. The group is its column and the period is its row.
What is the charge of Tungsten?
Tungsten most commonly forms a 6+ or 4+ ion. Like most transition metals it has several accessible oxidation states, so the charge depends on the compound.
What is the melting point of Tungsten?
Tungsten melts at 3,422 °C and boils at 5,555 °C. That puts it in the solids at everyday temperatures.
What is Tungsten used for?
Tungsten carbide cutting tools and drill bits, Radiation shielding and counterweights, Welding electrodes, Historically, light-bulb filaments. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, at 3,422 °C, and nearly the highest density.
Who discovered Tungsten, and where does its name come from?
Tungsten (W) was discovered by Juan José and Fausto Elhuyar in 1783. The name comes from Swedish tung sten, "heavy stone"; symbol from wolframite.