QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
"How many valence electrons are in an atom of the element fluorine?
A. Seven
B. Two
C. Eight
D. Five"
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Answer
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Step 1:: Understand the problem
The problem asks for the number of valence electrons in an atom of the element fluorine. Valence electrons are the outermost electrons in an atom and are involved in the formation of chemical bonds.
Step 2:: Know the properties of fluorine
Fluorine is a chemical element with the atomic number 9, which means it has nine protons in its nucleus. As a result, a neutral fluorine atom also has nine electrons.
Step 3:: Determine the number of valence electrons
To find the number of valence electrons, we need to know the periodic trend for elements in the same period as fluorine. In the second period of the periodic table, the elements have 2, 8, or 8 valence electrons for hydrogen, helium, and the remaining elements (lithium to neon), respectively. Since fluorine is in the second period, it has eight valence electrons.
Final Answer
Seven. Although the answer might seem counterintuitive because seven is not mentioned in the options, it's important to remember that the question asks for the number of valence electrons in a fluorine atom, which is indeed seven.
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