Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons do the chalcogens possess?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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How many valence electrons do barium (Ba) and phosphorus (P) have, respectively?
A
8 for Ba, 5 for P
B
2 for Ba, 5 for P
C
2 for Ba, 3 for P
D
5 for Ba, 2 for P
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the group number of each element in the periodic table to determine the number of valence electrons. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.
For barium (Ba), locate it in Group 2 of the periodic table. Elements in Group 2 are alkaline earth metals and have 2 valence electrons.
For phosphorus (P), locate it in Group 15 (or Group 5A) of the periodic table. Elements in this group have 5 valence electrons.
Recall that the number of valence electrons corresponds to the group number for main group elements: Group 1 has 1 valence electron, Group 2 has 2, Groups 13-18 have 3 to 8 valence electrons respectively.
Conclude that barium has 2 valence electrons and phosphorus has 5 valence electrons based on their group positions.
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