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atoms are most stable when they have filled the outer shell of electrons which normally holds a max of 8. so if an atom has 1 electron in its outer layer getting rid of it will give him stability, in much the same way having 7 electrons will mean gaining one electron will give it stability. now lets say the two meet, they react with each other and everybody is happy.

It is thought than when two elements react, they are trying to acheive a "perfect" electronic configuration (i.e. have a full outer shell). The more electrons needs to lose/gain before acheiving this stability determines its reactivity.

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What are some details of the number of valence electrons in atoms affect the reactivity of elements?

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What do these valence electrons do that make them are so important in chemistry?

the number of valence electrons determine the reactivity of the atoms


What do Valence Electrons determine?

Valence electrons determine the reactivity and chemical behavior of an element. Elements with the same number of valence electrons exhibit similar properties and tend to form similar types of chemical bonds.


What determines the reactive of an element?

The reactivity of an element is determined by its number of valence electrons. Elements with fewer valence electrons tend to be more reactive as they seek to gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Additionally, factors such as electronegativity, atomic size, and the presence of nearby elements can also influence an element's reactivity.


How are valence electrons differ from other electrons in an atom?

The closer the number of valence electrons is to the number required to completely fill or deplete its outer shell the more likely the atom is to react. With other electrons in an atom the shells are full and they have little if any affect on the reactivity of an atom. Valence electrons are the only electrons that are available to be shared/transferred in a bond.


What is the reactivity of an atom determined by?

The reactivity of an atom is determined by the number of electrons in its outer energy level (valence electrons). Atoms with incomplete valence shells tend to be more reactive as they seek to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Electrons in the outermost energy level are involved in chemical reactions.


What is the difference between the atomic number of an element and number of valence electrons?

Describe the reactivity of halogens


What is the difference between the atomic number of an element and the number of valence electrons?

Describe the reactivity of halogens


What is the number of valence electrons?

The number of valence electrons is the number of electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom. It determines an element's reactivity and its ability to form chemical bonds.


The elements within a group have a similar number of?

Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. These are the outer-shell electrons that react with other elements.


What are Valence elcetrons?

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom. They are involved in chemical bonding and determine the reactivity of an element. The number of valence electrons influences the element's properties and behavior in chemical reactions.


Is an element's reactivity determined by the number of protons found in an atom of an element?

No, an element's reactivity is mainly determined by the number of electrons in its outer shell, known as valence electrons. Elements with fewer valence electrons tend to be more reactive as they seek to either lose, gain, or share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. The number of protons in an atom, which determines the element's identity, does not directly influence its reactivity.