EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom have a special significance. These electrons are called valence electrons, and they determine many of the properties of an atom. An atom is most stable if its outermost energy level contains as many electrons as it can hold.

Detailed explanation-2: -Valence electrons are the electrons in the highest occupied principal energy level of an atom. In the second period elements, the two electrons in the 1s sublevel are called inner-shell electrons and are not involved directly in the element’s reactivity, or in the formation of compounds.

Detailed explanation-3: -This outermost shell is known as the valence shell, and the electrons found in it are called valence electrons. In general, atoms are most stable, least reactive, when their outermost electron shell is full.

Detailed explanation-4: -Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell, or energy level, of an atom. For example, oxygen has six valence electrons, two in the 2s subshell and four in the 2p subshell. We can write the configuration of oxygen’s valence electrons as 2s²2p⁴.

Detailed explanation-5: -Valence electrons are the outermost electrons and are therefore at the highest energy level. Because they are the outermost energy levels, they are available to participate in chemical bonding, either ionic or covalent. The alkali metals have one valence electron in their highest energy level.