Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does a neutral atom of beryllium (Be) have?
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 valence electrons does an iron (Fe) atom have in its ground state?
A
6
B
8
C
2
D
4
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that can participate in chemical bonding.
Determine the electron configuration of iron (Fe) in its ground state. Iron has an atomic number of 26, so it has 26 electrons.
Write the electron configuration for Fe: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^6$.
Identify the electrons in the outermost shell. For transition metals like Fe, the 4s and 3d electrons are considered valence electrons.
Count the valence electrons by adding the electrons in the 4s and 3d orbitals: $4s^2$ and $3d^6$ give a total of 8 valence electrons.
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