Multiple Choice
Which atom in the ground state has a valence electron with the greatest amount of energy?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
How many valence electrons does an oxygen atom have?
A
2
B
4
C
8
D
6
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the element in question, which is oxygen. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, meaning it has 8 electrons in total.
Recall that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell (energy level) of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.
Determine the electron configuration of oxygen: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^4$. The first shell (1s) is full with 2 electrons, and the second shell contains the remaining 6 electrons.
Since the second shell is the outermost shell for oxygen, count the electrons in this shell: $2s^2 2p^4$ gives a total of 6 valence electrons.
Conclude that oxygen has 6 valence electrons, which explains its chemical behavior and bonding patterns.
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