Niobium Properties. Niobium is a Block D, Group 5, Period 5 element. The number of electrons in each of niobium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 12, 1 and its electronic configuration is [Kr] 4d 4 5s 1.The niobium atom has a radius of 142.9.pm and its Van der Waals radius is 200.pm.In its elemental form, CAS, niobium has a gray metallic appearance.