Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does a chlorine atom have?
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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 present in the third energy level (n = 3) of a neutral silicon (Si) atom?
A
6
B
8
C
2
D
4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of silicon (Si), which tells us the total number of electrons in a neutral atom. Silicon has an atomic number of 14, so it has 14 electrons.
Recall the order in which electrons fill the energy levels (shells) according to the Aufbau principle: electrons fill lower energy levels first before moving to higher ones.
The first energy level (n=1) can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second energy level (n=2) can hold up to 8 electrons. Fill these levels first with electrons from silicon.
Subtract the electrons in the first two energy levels from the total number of electrons to find how many electrons remain for the third energy level (n=3).
The remaining electrons after filling the first two levels will be the number of electrons present in the third energy level of the silicon atom.
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