Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the significance of valence electrons in an atom?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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How many valence electrons does an oxygen atom have in its ground state?
A
2
B
8
C
4
D
6
Verified step by step guidance1
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 an oxygen atom in its ground state. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, so it has 8 electrons.
Write the electron configuration: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^4$. The first shell (1s) is full with 2 electrons, and the second shell contains the remaining 6 electrons.
Identify the valence shell, which is the second shell (n=2) for oxygen. The electrons in this shell are $2s^2 2p^4$, totaling 6 electrons.
Conclude that oxygen has 6 valence electrons in its ground state because these are the electrons available for bonding.
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