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).
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.
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 valence electrons are involved in the chemical bonding of atoms in a molecule.
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.
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.
shared between the atoms or transferred from one atom to another to form chemical bonds.
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.
Oxygen atoms have 6 valence electrons, while sulfur atoms have 6 valence electrons as well.
valence electrons
the electrons on their outer shell, all atoms want to gain a full valence shell.
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.
an ion
Atoms with eight valence electrons usually do not gain or lose electrons. Atoms with one, two, or three valence electrons will lose electrons.
They will gain 3 electrons from something with 3 valence electrons.
The valence electrons are involved in the chemical bonding of atoms in a molecule.
Valence Electrons!
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.