Multiple Choice
What is the total number of outer (valence) electrons present in a molecule of sulfur dioxide (SO_2)?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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How many bonding electrons does a fluorine atom have in its ground state?
A
7
B
2
C
5
D
1
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that bonding electrons are the electrons involved in forming chemical bonds, typically the unpaired electrons in the valence shell of an atom.
Determine the electron configuration of a fluorine atom in its ground state. Fluorine has an atomic number of 9, so its electron configuration is $1s^2 2s^2 2p^5$.
Focus on the valence shell electrons, which are the electrons in the 2s and 2p orbitals. For fluorine, the valence electrons are $2s^2 2p^5$, totaling 7 valence electrons.
In the 2p subshell, there are three orbitals that can each hold 2 electrons. Since fluorine has 5 electrons in the 2p orbitals, one of these orbitals will have a single unpaired electron.
The number of bonding electrons corresponds to the number of unpaired valence electrons available for bonding. Therefore, fluorine has 1 bonding electron in its ground state.
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