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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).

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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?

It is predominantly the electrons on the outermost shell (valence electrons) of an atom that determine its reactivity with other atoms. These valence electrons are involved in forming chemical bonds with other atoms.


How many valence electrons are in the compound Al2O3?

In the compound Al₂O₃, there are two aluminum (Al) atoms and three oxygen (O) atoms. Aluminum has 3 valence electrons, so 2 Al atoms contribute a total of 6 valence electrons. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons, so 3 O atoms contribute 18 valence electrons. Therefore, the total number of valence electrons in Al₂O₃ is 6 + 18 = 24 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.


How many valence electrons does isopropyl alcohol have?

Isopropyl alcohol, or isopropanol (C3H8O), has a total of 20 valence electrons. The carbon atoms contribute 12 valence electrons (3 carbon atoms with 4 electrons each), the hydrogen atoms contribute 8 valence electrons (8 hydrogen atoms with 1 electron each), and the oxygen atom contributes 6 valence electrons. Thus, when you sum them up (12 + 8 + 6), you get a total of 20 valence electrons.


What type of electron is available to form bonds?

Valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom, are available to form bonds with other atoms. These electrons are involved in the formation of chemical bonds.

Related Questions

Electrons involved in bonding atoms are?

shared between the atoms or transferred from one atom to another to form chemical bonds.


What determines whether or not an atom reacts with other atoms is it the electrons on the first shell or the second?

It is predominantly the electrons on the outermost shell (valence electrons) of an atom that determine its reactivity with other atoms. These valence electrons are involved in forming chemical bonds with other atoms.


How many valance electrons to Atoms of oxygen and sulfur have?

Oxygen atoms have 6 valence electrons, while sulfur atoms have 6 valence electrons as well.


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.


How many valence electrons are in the compound Al2O3?

In the compound Al₂O₃, there are two aluminum (Al) atoms and three oxygen (O) atoms. Aluminum has 3 valence electrons, so 2 Al atoms contribute a total of 6 valence electrons. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons, so 3 O atoms contribute 18 valence electrons. Therefore, the total number of valence electrons in Al₂O₃ is 6 + 18 = 24 valence electrons.


The outermost electrons in an atoms electron cloud are called?

an ion


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.


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.


What electrons are involved bonding?

Valence Electrons!


How many valence electrons does isopropyl alcohol have?

Isopropyl alcohol, or isopropanol (C3H8O), has a total of 20 valence electrons. The carbon atoms contribute 12 valence electrons (3 carbon atoms with 4 electrons each), the hydrogen atoms contribute 8 valence electrons (8 hydrogen atoms with 1 electron each), and the oxygen atom contributes 6 valence electrons. Thus, when you sum them up (12 + 8 + 6), you get a total of 20 valence electrons.