QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
How many valence electrons are there in the valence shell of sodium, Na (atomic number 11)?
A. three
B. one
C. two
D. four
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Answer
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Step 1:I'll solve this step-by-step following the specified LaTeX and formatting guidelines:
Step 2:: Determine the electron configuration of sodium
- The electron configuration for sodium is $$1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6} 3s^{1}
- Sodium's atomic number is 11, which means it has 11 total electrons
Step 3:: Identify the valence electrons
- In this case, sodium has $$1$$ electron in its valence shell
- Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell - For sodium, these are the electrons in the 3s orbital
Step 4:: Verify the number of valence electrons
- Counting the electrons in the 3s orbital confirms there is $$1$$ valence electron
- This matches the electron configuration 3s^{1}
Final Answer
Explanation: Sodium (Na) has one valence electron in its 3s orbital, which determines its chemical behavior and ability to form bonds. This single valence electron is easily lost, making sodium a highly reactive alkali metal.
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