Characteristics of Valence Electrons

The characteristics of valence electrons include:

Location: Valence electrons are electrons located in the last energy level, which is the atom’s outermost shell . Hence, such electrons are the ones that are farthest to the nucleus of an atom.

Reactivity: The valence electrons are the active participants of an atom in a chemical bond; hence, it is these valence electrons that define the reactivity of an atom. In other words, these are the electrons used in sharing with another atom to form a chemical bond.

Ionization: Ionization is a process where the valence electrons can be gained or lost. The process influences the charge of the ion, and, therefore, the atom’s character.

Electron Affinity: Electron affinity’s magnitude may be determined by the amount of valence electrons it contains. This is the energy released or absorbed when a neutral atom of an element gains an electron, attracting, and repelling at the same time.

Electron shielding: inner-shell electrons shield the valence electrons; therefore, they are more reactive than their counterpart with respect to another atom or another molecule.

Stability: An atom having a full valence shell is very stable and chemically inactive. An atom with an incomplete valence shell is chemically active.

Valence electrons are situated at the outermost highest energy level of an atom, making them the most available for creating molecular bonds. The number of valence electrons in one atom of any element is determined by its position in the periodic table. The valence electrons are the primary factors in chemical reactions that bond and react with other atoms or molecules. Hence, determining the elements’ reactivity, electronegativity, and the number of bonds they can form. In this article, we will look into what valence electrons are and how to find valence electron for atoms.