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What role do valence electrons play in whether an atoms bond to another atom or not?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
They play a HUGE role.
This is because this is the most fundamental principle that governs chemical reactions.
For example, the classic tablesalt compound.
Sodium (Na) has a single valence electron, while Chlorine (Cl) has seven valence electrons. Elements of this size (Atomic Mass) usually want to have a total of 8 valence electrons.
Well guess what? Sodium wants to get rid of that bothersome electron to have a complete shell rather than another incomplete shell. Chlorine wants to fill its shell so it happily takes it.
Now Sodium has a filled shell and so does Chlorine.
This means that sodium is positive and the chlorine is negative and so they bond from the difference in charge. Voila we have tablesalt.
This is just one of many examples showing the importance of valence electrons in chemistry. This was an example of an ionic bond because an electron was completely given and not shared like in a covalence electron. The term "covalence" implies that the valence electrons will co-exist between the atoms, like in water (H20).
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What determines whether or not an atom reacts with other atoms is it the electrons on the first shell or the second?
valence electrons or the electrons on the outer most shell.
Valence electrons are involved in what?
Valence electrons are involved in bonding to other atoms.
What type of electron is available to form bonds?
Valence electrons-electrons that are farthest from an atoms nucleus- are the electrons that form bonds with other atoms.
What do you mean by valence shell and valence electrons?
The valence electrons are involved in the chemical bonding of atoms in a molecule.
What happen to carbon atoms valence electrons when it bonds with other atoms?
Atoms gain lose or share valence electrons in a way that makes the atoms more stable
Which of the following statements are true about whether atoms tend to gain or lose electrons?
Atoms with eight valence electrons usually do not gain or lose electrons. Atoms with one, two, or three valence electrons will lose electrons.
Electrons involved in bonding atoms are?
valence electrons
What determines whether or not an atom reacts with other atoms is it the electrons on the first shell or the second?
valence electrons or the electrons on the outer most shell.
What The double bond between carbon atom and two oxygen atoms has two characteristics what are they?
The answer is c. Valence electrons are shared between oxygen atoms & D. Four valence eletrons are shared
What are an atoms outermost electrons?
valence electrons
What are atoms valence electrons?
the electrons on their outer shell, all atoms want to gain a full valence shell.
Valence electrons are involved in what?
Valence electrons are involved in bonding to other atoms.
What type of electron is available to form bonds?
Valence electrons-electrons that are farthest from an atoms nucleus- are the electrons that form bonds with other atoms.
How will atoms with 5 valence electrons achieve a full set of valence electrons?
They will gain 3 electrons from something with 3 valence electrons.
What do you mean by valence shell and valence electrons?
The valence electrons are involved in the chemical bonding of atoms in a molecule.
Negative ions form when atoms-blank-valence electrons?
Negative ions form when atoms GAIN valence electrons.
What happen to carbon atoms valence electrons when it bonds with other atoms?
Atoms gain lose or share valence electrons in a way that makes the atoms more stable
