Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does fluorine (F) have?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
Multiple Choice
How many electrons are present in the outermost energy level (valence shell) of a neutral fluorine (F) atom?
A
8
B
5
C
7
D
1
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of fluorine (F), which tells you the number of protons and, for a neutral atom, also the number of electrons.
Recall that fluorine has an atomic number of 9, so it has 9 electrons in total.
Determine the electron configuration of fluorine by filling the energy levels in order: the first shell (1s) can hold 2 electrons, and the second shell (2s and 2p) holds the remaining electrons.
Write the electron configuration: 1s\^2 2s\^2 2p\^5, where the superscripts indicate the number of electrons in each subshell.
Count the electrons in the outermost shell (the second shell), which includes 2 electrons in 2s and 5 electrons in 2p, totaling 7 valence electrons.
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