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Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does a chlorine (Cl) atom have?
A
6
B
5
C
7
D
8
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the element in question, which is chlorine (Cl).
Recall that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.
Determine the group number of chlorine in the periodic table. Chlorine is in Group 17 (also known as Group VIIA).
For main group elements, the number of valence electrons corresponds to the group number for Groups 1-2 and 13-18. Since chlorine is in Group 17, it has 7 valence electrons.
Therefore, chlorine has 7 valence electrons, which explains its chemical behavior and bonding patterns.