Multiple Choice
How many electrons are present in the n = 3 shell of a neutral vanadium (V) atom?
3
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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
What is the valence electron configuration for the oxygen atom?
A
2s^2 2p^4
B
2s^2 2p^6
C
1s^2 2s^2 2p^6
D
1s^2 2s^2 2p^2
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the atomic number of oxygen, which tells you the total number of electrons in a neutral oxygen atom. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, so it has 8 electrons.
Step 2: Recall the order in which electron orbitals are filled according to the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, then 2p.
Step 3: Fill the electrons into the orbitals starting from the lowest energy level: 1s can hold 2 electrons, 2s can hold 2 electrons, and 2p can hold up to 6 electrons.
Step 4: Assign the 8 electrons to the orbitals: 2 electrons go to 1s, 2 electrons go to 2s, and the remaining 4 electrons go to 2p.
Step 5: The valence electrons are those in the outermost shell, which for oxygen are the electrons in the 2s and 2p orbitals. Therefore, the valence electron configuration is $2s^2 2p^4$.
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