Question

How do you determine the number of valence electrons in an element?

Answer 1

As we know that valence electrons are the electrons that are present in the outermost shell of an atom. If we have to find the valence electrons, then we must have to know the atomic number of that atom. We can use atomic numbers to write the electronic configuration and then find the electrons in the valence shell.

Complete step by step answer:
- We should understand the meaning of the term valence. It is basically the electrons in the valence shell of an atom called valence electrons.
- To understand this concept let us consider an example of lithium. As we know that the atomic number of lithium is 3, and it has 2 electrons in the first shell and one electron in the second shell, that is basically a valence shell. So, we can see that its electronic configuration is 2,1. And we can say that there is one electron in the valence shell.
- From the above discussion we can understand that lithium has one electron in its valence shell that makes it valence electrons. Hence, in this way we can calculate the number of valence electrons in an atom

Note: As we know that valency is the combining power of an element. It is found that elements in the same group have the same valence in the periodic table. Basically the valence of an element is related to the electrons that are present in the outer shell.