Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons are present in a neutral atom of oxygen?
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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 electrons are required to complete the outer energy level (valence shell) of a phosphorus atom?
A
3
B
5
C
8
D
2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of phosphorus, which is 15. This tells us phosphorus has 15 electrons in total.
Determine the electron configuration of phosphorus to understand how electrons are distributed in its shells. The configuration is 1s\^2 2s\^2 2p\^6 3s\^2 3p\^3.
Focus on the outermost shell (valence shell), which is the third shell for phosphorus. Count the electrons in this shell: 3s\^2 and 3p\^3, totaling 5 valence electrons.
Recall that the maximum number of electrons in the valence shell for elements in the third period is 8 (octet rule).
Calculate the number of electrons needed to complete the valence shell by subtracting the current valence electrons from 8: 8 - 5 = 3 electrons.
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