Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does a carbon atom have?
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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 maximum number of electrons that can occupy the valence shell of a hydrogen atom?
A
0
B
8
C
1
D
2
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the valence shell refers to the outermost electron shell of an atom, which is involved in chemical bonding.
For hydrogen, the atomic number is 1, meaning it has only one electron occupying the first shell (n=1).
The first shell (n=1) can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, as it contains only the 1s subshell, which has one orbital that can hold 2 electrons with opposite spins.
Therefore, even though hydrogen normally has 1 electron, the maximum number of electrons that can occupy its valence shell (the first shell) is 2.
This is consistent with the general rule that the first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, while shells beyond the first can hold more.
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