Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does calcium (Ca) have?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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How many valence electrons does calcium (Ca) have?
A
2
B
6
C
8
D
4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the element calcium (Ca) on the periodic table. Calcium has an atomic number of 20, which means it has 20 electrons in total.
Determine the electron configuration of calcium to understand how its electrons are distributed among the shells. The electron configuration is written as: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2$.
Recognize that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell (highest principal quantum number). For calcium, the outermost shell is the 4th shell, which contains the $4s^2$ electrons.
Count the number of electrons in the outermost shell. Since calcium has $4s^2$, it has 2 valence electrons.
Conclude that calcium has 2 valence electrons, which explains its chemical properties and typical +2 oxidation state.
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